Aug. 18, 2010

BERKELEY - When Golden Bear fans return to Strawberry Canyon for the 2010 football season this fall, they will see the tremendous amount of construction progress made on both the Student-Athlete High Performance Center and Memorial Stadium.

The SAHPC, which will house football and 12 Olympic sports, is more than halfway complete and is on target to open on time in September 2011. The final concrete pour occurred in early June, and workers have been busy putting finishing touches on the exterior, including water proofing and landscaping. Inside the facility, utility installation and framing are just two of the many activities taking place.

Perhaps more noticeable to visitors are the developments in and around Memorial Stadium, which is undergoing a retrofit and renovation 87 after its opening in 1923. Temporary steel braces have been erected around the exterior that will support the outer wall once major construction commences after the football season. The concourse on the west side is also much wider after many of the offices, including the Hall of Fame Room, were demolished over the summer to get a head start of the overall project. The resulting extra space provides fans with better circulation and allow for additional restrooms, concessions and merchandise stands this season.

To view the progress on both projects, click on the link to a Construction Photo Gallery showing images shot in mid-August.

Additional information on both ventures can be found on two new websites launched over the summer:

CalHighPerformance.com
stadium.berkeley.edu