Construction of long awaited stadium project begins

What seems to have been a ghost jobsite has suddenly emerged as the beginning of major construction, as heavy machinery and contractors frequent the area, readying themselves for the upcoming A.W. Mumford Stadium project, that has been ongoing since Fall 2007.
Southern University students and faculty have been gradually diverted away from the parking area near and surrounding the northern region of the stadium as The Lemoine Company prepares for the $16.28 million dollar project that consists of a multi-story addition. The addition will house football and track operations, new locker rooms and 2500 additional seats (500 stadium and 2000 suit).
Matthew Jones of Lemoine and project manager for Mumford’s additions said, “The projected completion date is August 10th of 2009, which is about two weeks prior to the first game of the 2009 season.”
Jones admits that to some, the construction that is currently taking place may seem boring and uninteresting, but the process plays a crucial role in providing proper support and structure for the finished project.
Joshua Smith, a freshman business management major of Baton Rouge, said that he feels as though Southern does not have its priorities in order. “I think that the additions to Mumford Stadium are a great thing, but what about the dorm rooms and other facilities that need renovation and remodeling here on campus… I feel like the additions to the stadium could have came later, after other renovations have taken place,” said Smith.
From making a bid to complete the additions, pricing and contracting the upgrades to the A.W. Mumford Stadium, the Lemoine Company has been at work for roughly five months.
The project manager admits that (physical) work was actually supposed to start as early as two and half weeks ago, but because of some minor complications with machinery that have been completely eliminated, the job for the most part is still on schedule.
Larry Magee, project manager for the Southern University System Foundation, stated that the need for the additions to the stadium have been there for years. Magee also noted that because Southern is not a state funded institution, the Southern System Foundation held a public bond auction that raised $60 million, which not only funds the additions to the stadium, but also some future projects such as the intramural sports complex and the baseball administration facility. “The Mumford Stadium project is set to be completed by latter 2009 and contracted for 540 calendar days,” said Magee.
While the additions to the stadium will in fact cut some faculty and student parking throughout the academic year, the three-story upgrade to Mumford’s north side will also cut parking for those that tailgate and park their mobile homes near the stadium. Southern University System Foundation is currently in talks with a local architectural firm in Baton Rouge in order to discuss alternate parking arrangements.
Officials at Lemoine believe that the alternate parking arrangements are a small sacrifice that tailgaters with have to make in order for the additions that will bring new suits and athletic facilities among other things to the stadium to be successful. Attracting and retaining students are a few of the goals that the additions to Mumford and other facilities on Southern’s campus hope to achieve.