Atlanta Hawks award Turner-led JV $193M Philips Arena renovation

Dive Brief:

The Atlanta Hawks announced Monday that the NBA team has awarded the $192.5 million renovation contract for Philips Arena to Atlanta Joint Venture, a Turner Construction-led consortium of four contractors, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
In addition to Turner as controlling partner, the joint venture also includes Indianapolis-based AECOM Hunt and two local companies — SG Contracting (Atlanta) and Bryson Constructors (East Point, GA). Atlanta-based HJ Russell & Company and Legends Project Development will serve as the project managers.
Construction will begin next year and is expected to be complete in time for the 2018-2019 NBA season. The Hawks will continue to play in the Philips Arena during construction, as most work will be done during the offseason.

Dive Insight:

Turner and AECOM Hunt have significant national sports venue experience. In July, the Turner-AECOM Hunt team was chosen to build the Los Angeles Rams $2.5 billion stadium. In addition, SG led the construction of the McCamish Pavilion on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus, and Bryson has done extensive work at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Earlier this month, the city announced that it would fund $142.5 million of construction costs as part of a deal to get the Hawks to stay at Philips Arena until at least 2046. The team will foot the bill for the $50 million balance. If the team reneges on the agreement, it could face up to $200 million in penalties. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said the Philips renovation could lead to $1 billion in downtown development, and Hawks owner Tony Ressler has displayed some interest in building a mixed-use project near the arena.

Two other Atlanta major league sports franchises are building ground-up venues. Construction is still underway at the $1.5 billion Atlanta Falcons Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and workers installed the last fixed-roof steel beam last month. The next challenge for construction crews is to install the petal-like retractable roof system, which will open and close like an eight-blade camera aperture. The new facility will also be home field for the Atlanta United soccer team. When complete, the venue will be the first LEED Platinum–certified stadium.

Crews are also at work on the future home of the Atlanta Braves baseball team, the $672 million SunTrust Park in Cobb County, GA. American Builders — a joint venture between Brasfield & Gorrie, Mortenson Construction, Barton Malow Company and New South Construction — is serving as the construction manager at risk for the development. SunTrust Park is scheduled to open in 2017.