New elevator, ticket windows at Bowers
7/10/2009 9:00:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark, Huntsville Item
The five-year, three-phase renovation project for Sam Houston State's Bowers Stadium has been completed with the addition of an elevator to the press box for the 14,000 facility.
In the past few years, other changes have included a new playing surface, a video scoreboard, new lockers for the football team and dressing room improvements. The new elevator runs along the left side of the ticket booth at the main entrance. In order to even out the look of the building, a false shaft was added to the right side, providing large storage closets on each level of the press box.
"We still are working on a policy, but the elevator is mainly for people utilizing the press box," SHSU director of athletics Bobby Williams said. "It will provide access to the suite level, the press level and the coaches' boxes. We have all the necessary ramps for fans with disabilities to get into the stadium, so the elevator was added to make sure people who use the press box have the same easy access."
The project began in 2004 when the old press level was turned into fan suites and the president's box was expanded. Those changes brought about the need to upgrade the fire codes for the facility. The second phase consisted of installing fire alarms, sprinkler systems and suitable exit doors in the building to assure it met the safety code standards.
The elevator was added to keep the press box in cmopliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"(SHSU President) Dr. James Gaertner and the university helped us fund the project," Williams said. "We finally completed it in March."
The front of Bowers Stadium has a new look besides the elevator and false shaft. The ticket booth now was a metal awning and the entrance to the elevator is enclosed with numerous windows and marble flooring.
"We're working now on making the new entrances as attractive as possible," Williams said. "We're adding photos and other decorations and thinking about a way to display our Southland Commissioner's Cups and football championship trophies so fans can enjoy them on game days. It's been a long project and we want to make the stadium look as nice as possible."
The five-year, three-phase renovation project for Sam Houston State's Bowers Stadium has been completed with the addition of an elevator to the press box for the 14,000 facility.
In the past few years, other changes have included a new playing surface, a video scoreboard, new lockers for the football team and dressing room improvements. The new elevator runs along the left side of the ticket booth at the main entrance. In order to even out the look of the building, a false shaft was added to the right side, providing large storage closets on each level of the press box.
"We still are working on a policy, but the elevator is mainly for people utilizing the press box," SHSU director of athletics Bobby Williams said. "It will provide access to the suite level, the press level and the coaches' boxes. We have all the necessary ramps for fans with disabilities to get into the stadium, so the elevator was added to make sure people who use the press box have the same easy access."
The project began in 2004 when the old press level was turned into fan suites and the president's box was expanded. Those changes brought about the need to upgrade the fire codes for the facility. The second phase consisted of installing fire alarms, sprinkler systems and suitable exit doors in the building to assure it met the safety code standards.
The elevator was added to keep the press box in cmopliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"(SHSU President) Dr. James Gaertner and the university helped us fund the project," Williams said. "We finally completed it in March."
The front of Bowers Stadium has a new look besides the elevator and false shaft. The ticket booth now was a metal awning and the entrance to the elevator is enclosed with numerous windows and marble flooring.
"We're working now on making the new entrances as attractive as possible," Williams said. "We're adding photos and other decorations and thinking about a way to display our Southland Commissioner's Cups and football championship trophies so fans can enjoy them on game days. It's been a long project and we want to make the stadium look as nice as possible."
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