Carver renovation remains on schedule

IOWA CITY - Carver-Hawkeye Arena's $47 million renovation is on track for completion by Aug. 1, 2011, according to Jane Meyer, Iowa's senior associate athletics director.

“I'm comfortable to say we're on schedule,” said Meyer, who conducted a tour of the renovation facility on Tuesday. “And we are on budget at this point.”

The four-story renovation and reconstruction includes new office spaces for administrators and coaches, new locker rooms, two club areas, two full-length basketball courts and an 11,000 square-foot strength-and-conditioning area for 23 of Iowa's 24 sports. The basketball courts - located on the second floor - will be heated and air-conditioned and a sound-dampening retractable wall can be placed between them so the basketball and volleyball teams can conduct practice side-by-side without disturbing the other squad.

The wrestling room also receives a face-lift and an expansion. The practice areas will incorporate hand geometry for secure access.

While the facility is partially completed, there's still plenty to do by midwinter so interior work can be completed, Meyer said.

“The goal according to the schedule is to be totally enclosed by mid-January,” Meyer said. “Structurally, it's up.”

Most of Iowa's athletics department employees have left their offices for Kinnick Stadium during the renovation. The administrators leave for Kinnick after football season. Current athletes (except football) use the new campus recreation building for strength and conditioning until the practice facility is completed.

After spring graduation, Iowa will replace the retractable seating in the lower arena bowl with black-colored, fixed seats.

“Everybody sort of looks to the day of knowing what their space is going to be like,” Meyer said.

The state Board of Regents approved the project June, 12, 2008. Construction began in fall 2009.