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Construction transforms Brooks Stadium

Brooks Stadium Phase I construction is moving right along and should be completed by the start of the football season with the first game against Massachusetts on Sept. 2, according to Rein Mungo, director of facilities and maintenance, and Matt Hogue, director of athletics.

The bleachers on the west side are now in place, and the columns and steel are being erected on the east side. The upper deck bleachers have arrived and are being installed. The turf field has been replaced to get the field ready for play. Roof framing begins this week at both restrooms on the west side. The site contractor is scheduled to begin cleaning, clearing and grading on the west side prepping for asphalt.

It’s all part of CCU's $32 million expansion to bring the seating capacity to more than 20,000 in 2018.

This first phase includes adding seats to completely connect seating on both sides to the field house behind the north end zone, expanding the lower sections on both sides toward the south scoreboard, and expanding the upper deck on the east side to match the length on the lower deck.

The second phase of expansion in 2018 will include adding a large enclosed suite that will house 300 to 350 people with an accompanying 230 outdoor club seats, and adding an upper deck to the west side. New entrances will also be constructed. Total seating will approach 21,000, with additional standing capacity.

Freshëns to replace Subway at Cino Grille

Freshëns, an Atlanta-based, healthy “fast casual” restaurant, will replace Subway in Cino Grille as of the spring semester 2018. The restaurant offers prepared-to-order food with fresh ingredients, as well as fresh blended smoothies and frozen yogurt.

Freshëns is a privately held company that’s been in operation for more than 30 years with 500 locations, including 300 college and universities.

Construction will take place in December over the Christmas break, said Sandy Baldridge-Adrian, director of contractual and business services, citing the market match survey that Aramark conducted as the reason behind the change. A need for more variety and the ability to use meal swipes contributed, she said.

Move-in time at new building

The new $18 million Academic Office Classroom Building II is now open with furniture being delivered, computers and phones being installed, and faculty and staff starting to move into the offices. The 53,000-square-foot building is next door to the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration and provides approximately 100 faculty and administrative staff offices, ITS office and space and 15 to 18 classrooms with 25 to 35 seats.

The ITS server room is in the front lobby, with showplace cases that are teal and black and can be observed from the hallway. The Food Service area has the equipment in place now, and the classrooms have some furniture in them now as well.
 
Track resurfacing

CCU is getting a teal track! The existing rubber track surface ie being replaced with a new teal rubber surface repairing the asphalt as needed around the track. Replacement also includes all running lanes for the track events – long /triple jump, javelin, and pole vault runways.

The Blanton Park Fountain has a new lighting feature.

CCU is getting a zen garden for the main campus. A committee has been working with Mungo and Eddie Dyer to determine the proper location and design. The committee has requested a construction timeline and price quotes. The site and garden layout plans will include a planting schedule, irrigation plan, site details, etc. David Gruber, owner of Carolina Olde Nursery, is providing a landscape layout.

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