Sep 15 2010

Support Camp Belzer cabin project

Hunt Construction Group has teamed up with Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf Architects on a charitable project to build two much-needed cabins at the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) Camp Belzer site north of Indianapolis.

Camp Belzer was established in 1918 by Francis Oliver Belzer and is one of America’s top ten oldest and largest BSA camps. The 130-acre wooded site is used for BSA day camp during the summer months (4,000 to 5,000 attendees) and each year over 90,000 people come to Camp Belzer for meetings, camping or day programs.

Hunt held a luncheon at the Conrad Indianapolis to discuss opportunities to get involved with this project. Labor, materials and general funds are all needed to make this great and honorable project a success.

For more information on how you can help, please download the presentation here and/or contact Chris Schoettle for further details. Also, be sure to “Like” our Facebook page and check out the photo album for construction updates.
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Sep 10 2010

Robert G. Hunt to assist Ball State University Students

Hunt Construction Group Chairman & CEO, Robert G. Hunt, will be joining the Ball State University staff this fall as an executive-in-residence. Inside Indiana Business covers all the details of the upcoming program in a press release included below.

Hunt, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from Ball State in 1969, will return to campus as an executive-in-residence, interacting with students in several programs as they focus on redesigning a large transportation hub in Venice, Italy — the Pizzale Roma, a main arrival/departure point for rail and bus service in the landmark city.

Hunt’s role as executive-in-residence for the university is an example of a talented alumnus bringing his knowledge into the classroom when students undertake such an ambitious immersive learning project, said Terry King, Ball State’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“Bob brings a practitioner’s viewpoint and incredible synergy as our students tackle a major design project,” King said. “Through his work with Hunt Construction Group, he has played a key role in building some of the best facilities in the nation. Without a doubt, he brings a wealth of experience that should enhance our students’ education.”
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Aug 23 2010

UofL Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium ready for kickoff

Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium began its upgrade in December 2008 and is now ready to show off what it has to offer as the season opener approaches. The renovation has sparked excitement with fans with season-ticket sales exceeding University of Louisville’s 40,000-ticket goal.

Completed this month by Hunt alongside design firm Luckett & Farley, the stadium now features nearly 13,000 additional seats consisting of 33 suites, 1,730 loge seats, 10,400 chairback seats in the upper deck and a new south terrace area open to everyone in the stadium.  PJCS is the only on-campus stadium to utilize all-chairback seating. With the upgrades, Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium can now accommodate more than 55,000 people.

The suites and loge seats open into the 20,000-square-foot PNC Club extending from end zone to end zone. The area features lounge seating, a full-service bar and concessions. Unlike the west side of the stadium, glass walls were built on the east side to allow fans a view of the field at all times while making their way from one end to the other.
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Aug 13 2010

Amway Center enters final stretch

The Amway Center began its journey on July 26, 2007 when the Orange County Commission approved a public building program in a 5 – 2 vote. This program included a new events center, performing arts center and renovation of the Citrus Bowl Stadium.

On July 25, 2008, the stadium started taking physical shape as Hunt Construction Group, in association with Rey, Albu, HZ and Burns alongside architect Populous and owner Orlando Magic, held the official groundbreaking. The then unnamed facility became Amway Center on August 5, 2009.

The Amway Center was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando.

The building’s exterior features a modern blend of glass and metal materials, along with ever-changing graphics via a monumental wall along one façade. A 180-foot tall tower and spire serves as a beacon amid the downtown skyline.

At 875,000 square feet, the new arena is almost triple the size of the old Amway Arena. The building features a sustainable, environmentally friendly design, unmatched technology, featuring 1,100 digital monitors and the largest, high-definition scoreboard in an NBA venue as well as multiple premium amenities available to all patrons in the building. Every level of ticket buyer will have access to: the Budweiser Baseline Bar, Club Restaurant, Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, Orlando on Demand Info Garden, Kid’s Zone, and multiple indoor-outdoor spaces which celebrate Florida’s climate.
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Aug 6 2010

LEED® Gold awarded to Coyote Ridge Corrections Center

Completed by the Hunt/Lydig Joint Venture in December 2008 with Integrus Architecture, Coyote Ridge Corrections Center recently received its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold certification.

The 560,000-square-foot Coyote Ridge Corrections Center is the first correctional facility to achieve LEED Gold certification. Even better, building the facility to LEED standards did not add to the overall construction cost; helping to set a new standard in correctional facility construction.

Building to higher standards has many benefits. The state will benefit long-term from reduced utility costs thanks to a decrease in the use of water, sewer, natural gas and electricity. Overall, it is estimated the prison will use 32% less energy when compared to a similar-size facility.
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Aug 4 2010

Consol Energy Center Earns LEED® Gold Certification

The new home of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins just received it’s LEED® Gold certification on the day of substantial completion. This achievement makes Consol Energy Center the first NHL arena in the U.S. with this distinction – something that should make the Penguins and the city of Pittsburgh proud.

Built by construction manager P.J. Dick-Hunt, A Joint Venture and designed by architect Populous, only facilities that are energy efficient, reduce waste and use recycled materials are awarded such a certification.

Designed to ensure there isn’t a bad seat in the house, the 735,000-square-foot Consol Energy Center stands out from the rest with many unique and upscale features. These include a mix of black and gold seats to give that Pittsburgh feel, a four-sided, 70,000-pound scoreboard, 66 suites, 32 loge boxes and a beautiful view of the Golden Triangle visible from the upper concourse.

Other features of the facility include 795 HD IPTVs throughout the facility, 386 toilets and urinals, two levels of concourses to ease congestion, east and west main concourse clubs, Lexus Club on suite level and an upscale club on the upper concourse. Additionally, there is a team store, seating for 18,000 for hockey, 19,100 for basketball and 20,000 for concerts and over 150 scheduled events per year.

Fans will have many opportunities to explore the new facility in the coming months. In August the Penguins are hosting a series of open houses with the first invitation-only grand opening taking place this Friday. Season ticket holders will have their chance to explore on August 14 and 15.

On August 28, the general public will get their first peek. Starting August 12, the box office will offer $5 tickets with proceeds going to the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. The first game will take place on September 22 with a preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Completed on schedule and within budget, the P.J. Dick-Hunt, A Joint Venture team has a lot to be proud of. Consol Energy Center has set new standards in NHL facility construction and a big thanks goes out to all the dedicated employees and trades who made this project possible.


Jul 28 2010

NY Construction Coverage of Barclays Center Arena

Let the pouring begin! Concrete pours have started at the site of the new Barclays Center Arena, marking the beginning of the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards development project in downtown Brooklyn.

When complete, the 670,000-square-foot multi-purpose arena will feature 18,000 seats, 105 luxury suites, public concourses on two levels, courtside VIP club and suite level club restaurant both complete with self-serving kitchens and an adjoining basketball practice facility. The arena will host NBA games, concerts, circuses, minor league hockey games and other family events. The primary tenant will be the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.

By the end of the foundation pour, nearly 13,000-cubic-yards of concrete will be set and more than 9,000 tons of steel will be used to construct the arena. The facility is on schedule to open mid-2012.
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Jul 26 2010

Crockett Elementary Back-to-School Drive

Hunt has continued their back-to-school drive tradition with Crockett Elementary by delivering thousands of supplies to the school over a two-day period. Hunt and Crockett Elementary have developed a solid relationship over the years through various volunteer projects and contributions.

This year, the staff could not believe the amount of boxes and bags coming in the door. Some started calling those who helped their “Hunt Angels”. Hunt is very thankful for the many employees out west who got into the spirit and gave money or bought supplies. Participating in events like this help keep the local community strong and Hunt is proud to have employees who embrace this line of thinking.
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Jul 13 2010

More CityScape Coverage as Phase 1 Completes

With phase one nearing completion and phase two entering preconstruction, the massive CityScape project is gearing up for its second installment. Southwest Contractor covers everything you need to know about the various phases of this project’s construction and what it will mean for the downtown landscape. When complete, the build-out will consists of over 2.5-million-square-feet and unite three city blocks.

Be sure to check out the article and project slide show on Southwest Contractor’s website.


Jul 8 2010

Arizona Republic Covers CityScape BIM Innovations

Today’s edition of the Arizona Republic includes a great overview of Hunt’s innovative use of Building Information Technology on the CityScape project in downtown Phoenix. CityScape is the first project in North America to utilize the BIM software known as ArtrA.

Created by ArtrA Inc. as part of AEC Design Group based in Gathersburg, MD, ArtrA is unlike anything currently in use in North America as it goes well beyond 3-D building modeling. For a better understanding of the capabilities of ArtrA and how it is being utilized by Hunt, be sure to check out our BIM overview.

Hunt chose CityScape as the flagship project for the software because of the nature of its construction. The facility is a core and shell project which makes testing the software easier and allows for tweaking for use on more complicated projects – such as the Marlins New Ballpark in Miami, FL.

Be sure to check out the full article for a rundown on Artra and the many benefits it offers to both the construction team and the owner.

Phoenix’s CityScape uses new building program – Arizona Republic