Syracuse University dropped some huge news last week when it was announced that over $200 million has been set aside to give the Carrier Dome and Archbold Gymnasium a much-needed facelift. Naturally, as soon as the news came out, Syracuse fans began to speculate wildly. Slowly, very slowly, Orange fans are getting a better idea of what the Dome might actually look like when this project is complete and when it actually might get done.
Walters Group Inc. is of the major design partners in charge of the redesign of the Carrier Dome roof and in a press release on Tuesday, they released some information that Syracuse fans have been desperate for since this whole thing began. The structural engineering firm has released the first renderings of the potential design for the new roof (see the image above).
This new roof is made of steel and Walters Group is working with Turner Construction Company on the redesign. If you are looking for some sort of comparable structure, check out the Minnesota Vikings’ new stadium which is set to open this fall. One may remember that the Vikings had an air supported dome on their old stadium (like Syracuse still does) and that roof collapsed during a major snowstorm. Luckily, Syracuse doesn’t get any snow.
These new designs look sleek but it is important to remember that this is only the first rendering. It may change significantly between now and the time of construction, but it may not. Only time will tell.
Speaking of time, we finally have a very preliminary timeline for this project, at least in terms of roof construction. The following was included in Walters Group’s statement.
Design-Assist activity began in April and fabrication for the early works is planned to start in July, with fabrication of main roof trusses commencing at the end of 2016, continuing into 2017. Site mobilization for early works packages will happen in October of this year.
Whatever the roof looks like and whenever it happens, big changes are coming to the Dome and Syracuse fans should be excited about it.
UPDATE: Syracuse University has since released a statement saying that nothing has been finalized and the renderings and the timeline are “not accurate”.
Clearly discussions are ongoing and everything is subject to change. While this rendering and the timeline have been dismissed by the school, it could be a sign that things are progessing more quickly than many had anticipated.
