Under the joint venture with Barton Malow and Alexander Construction, Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. completed the Beaver Stadium Gate E expansion project right before the Nittany Lions’ first game of the season. GOH had a very tight frame to finish the project in time for the September 4th home football game. However, time wasn’t the only challenge. Trying to match the existing Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining wall with new material proved to be quite a feat as well.
With a stadium holding over 106,000 people, Penn State determined a gate expansion would allow for safer fan entry and overall accessibility. Also, with such vivacious fans, the university deemed the extension of the high seismic resistance wall as a necessity.
Given the concrete supply shortage, the honeycomb-shaped wall being hard to replicate, and the installation of such a specialty did add to the difficulty of completion. Yet, the efforts of our dedicated crews did not go unnoticed. GOH received accolades from Alexander Construction’s project manager Mike Sgriccia:
“From the start of the project, GOH went above and beyond to complete the expansion of Beaver Stadium Gate E. This expansion faced many challenges, all of which GOH worked diligently to resolve, in conjunction with our team and the client, to deliver a quality project, on schedule.”
We want to share this acknowledgment with all of our partners on the ambitious project. The job required site demolition, clearing, excavation, grading, fencing, utilities, concrete, paving, landscaping, sod installation, and wall varnishing.
Project Manager Jeff Wert would like to thank Centre Concrete Co., Reinforced Earth, L/B Water Service Inc., Nastase Construction & Supplies, Strouse Electric, Scott’s Landscaping, and Gregory Fried Concrete Contractors, Inc. He would also draw attention to our dedicated employees for their tireless commitment to this project:
Structures
Structures Operations Manager Tom Buck, General Superintendent Tom Leigey, Project Superintendent Steven Daughenbaugh – and crew
Site
Project Superintendent Scott Norman and Foremen Cliff Mitchell and
Matt Brubaker and crews
Concrete
Foreman Rich Lightner and crew
Paving
Foreman James Culbertson and crew