AKRON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Welty Building Company Ltd., proven partners in comprehensive construction services and management, has completed the second phase of construction of the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in time for the 2017 Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. The Welty team met the aggressive, 10-month schedule – with an inflexible deadline – to safely complete the project for the Hall of Fame Game featuring Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys on August 3. The single-day peak of craftspeople on site was approximately 500. A daily average of 200 worked multiple shifts throughout the project in order to meet the very condensed and immovable deadline.
Welty’s reputation as an innovative market leader led to its selection as construction manager for this transformational project. This world-class, NFL-caliber stadium is the first of ten components of the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village, a nearly $800-million project led by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Industrial Realty Group (IRG). Welty is also the construction manager for the four-star hotel and conference center, scheduled for completion in 2019. The completion of Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village coincides with the NFL’s 100th season and subsequent Centennial celebration in 2020.
A few key features of the stadium include:
- Capacity of 23,000
- 968 club-level seats
- 28,000 square feet of unmatched premium event space
- Sky Level terrace, offering a one-of-a-kind experience on a sprawling terrace overlooking the stadium and Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village.
One of the most unique aspects of the stadium is its permanent stage embedded into the stadium’s bowl for the annual Enshrinement Ceremony and concerts. Also of note is the press box which was built to accommodate large numbers of media representatives that cover the Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls. The extraordinary views of the field and stadium are punctuated by the activated windows that raise up vertically into the ceiling.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates excellence EVERYWHERE,” stated Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker. “We are pleased to huddle up with an excellent team at Welty to create the finest small venue NFL stadium in the world.”
“Welty is honored to be the construction manager for the Hall of Fame Village Project and to be a part of the amazing team that is turning this incredible project into reality,” said Don Taylor, President and CEO of Welty Building Company. “The Village is a result of the incredible vision of the Hall of Fame Board and David Baker, Stu Lichter and their sponsors and partners -- Tom Benson and Johnson Controls.”
One of Welty’s unique partnerships is with the East Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council and its President David Kirven. The Council partnered with Welty, the city of Canton, The American Center for Economic Equality and the Black Contractors Group to pilot an apprentice program for disadvantaged youth from Akron and Canton. The apprentice program provides young minorities with the opportunity to work on current construction projects at the Hall of Fame Village and earn opportunities for employment on future projects.
A few additional construction facts about the second phase of the stadium include:
- 140,000 cubic yards of dirt was moved which equates to about 1,400 truckloads. If each truck took one load and then parked end-to-end with the other trucks, the line would stretch almost 140 lengths of a football field.
- 2,400 tons of steel have been used. Or, in NFL terms, about the total weight of more than 15,000 offensive linemen.
- 10,800 cubic yards of concrete was used, enough to pour 33 miles of a five-foot wide strip of sidewalk.
In addition to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium will also be home to other events throughout the year including concerts and numerous athletics events (football, lacrosse, soccer).
Additional work on the venue includes the addition of a concourse and permanent seating in the east end zone that will be completed in time for the 2018 Enshrinement Week Powered by Johnson Controls.
About Welty Building Company
Welty Building Company provides professional construction management services, specializing in Lean Construction, for clients in a variety of healthcare, education, commercial, energy and hospitality markets nationwide. With offices in Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio and Houston, Texas, Welty delivers the most extraordinary building experience by never being afraid to do what’s right – since 1945. Welty has had the distinction of creating many prestigious community assets, such as world-renowned Goodyear® Tire & Rubber Company’s new global headquarters, a multi-phased, massive expansion to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Kay Jewelers Pavilion at Akron Children’s Hospital, the City of Akron’s Ohio Canal Interceptor Tunnel, numerous academic buildings at the University of Akron and many others. Learn more at: www.thinkwelty.com.
