The need to add significant and conveniently located academic and student life space closer to other campus facilities led University of Notre Dame leaders to conceive of the Campus Crossroads Project in the spring of 2013. At the same time the project provides an opportunity to enhance the experience of fans in the existing Notre Dame Stadium bowl by providing several important and significant upgrades when the 2017 season begins.
“Campus Crossroads planning from the very beginning has involved a commitment to ensuring that our fans enjoy a top-quality in-stadium experience,” said Notre Dame vice president and athletics director Jack Swarbrick.
“That commitment involves everything from technology to amenities such as restrooms and concessions. When completed the Crossroads Project will improve the experience of every fan who attends our games.”
Seating improvements will include the addition of vinyl-clad benches throughout the stadium, replacing the wood bench seats, as well as establishment of an 18-inch standard width for all bench seating.
The most visible change at Notre Dame Stadium will involve the addition of a video board at the top of the south end of the venue, along with ribbon boards along the east and west sides of the stadium. As is the case with the video boards at Purcell Pavilion and the Compton Family Ice Arena, there will be no advertising or commercials associated with use of the video boards.
“We are confident the introduction of video will significantly improve enjoyment of every aspect of a game at Notre Dame Stadium—including the ability to support game day introductions and presentations with video elements, additional opportunities to promote the University, plus replays,” said Swarbrick.
The addition of the video boards also will allow for the removal of the north scoreboard in order to enhance the view of the Word of Life mural on the Hesburgh Library.
Here are additional enhancements planned:
-- Improvements to the Wi-Fi network within the stadium
-- Enhancements to the existing sound system within the stadium bowl
-- Renovation of restrooms and an increase in the number of women’s restrooms
(I'm sure the collective wives and mothers just let out a cheer)
-- Renovation of concession stands
-- Renovation of both the lower and upper concourses, including improved lighting, seating areas, enhanced signage and video monitors
“Notre Dame Stadium is one of the most tradition-rich facilities in all of college football,” said Swarbrick. “The Campus Crossroads Project is indicative of our commitment to making even greater use of it in the decades to come.”
Construction on Campus Crossroads, a $400 million project that will use the University’s iconic football stadium as a hub for new facilities supporting academic and student life initiatives, began last November, after the final home football game of the 2014 season.
Crossroads construction began with work on the buildings connected to the east and west sides of Notre Dame Stadium.
Laboratories, classrooms and offices for the anthropology and psychology departments will occupy four levels of the nine-story building on the east side of the stadium, with one level devoted to a digital media center. That east side structure will be known as Corbett Family Hall based on a gift announced in June from Notre Dame alumnus Richard Corbett.
Space designed to enhance student development and formation will fill the first five levels of the nine-story building linked to the west side of the stadium. The west structure will be known as Duncan Student Center thanks to a gift announced in May from Notre Dame alumnus Raymond T. Duncan, his wife Sally and their family.
Both buildings will be topped by stadium seating and media accommodations. Revenue generated through ticket sales will be used to help pay for the project and maintain the new academic and student life buildings.
Work on a structure connected to the south side of the stadium and housing the Department of Music and the Sacred Music at Notre Dame program began this summer. The foundation already is in place, and erection of the steel structure will begin in October.
The project is targeted for completion in August 2017.
Dozens of faculty and staff assisted by outside consultants conducted a nine-month feasibility study into expanding the use of the stadium, and in late January 2014 the University announced the project.
Campus Crossroads is one of several academic and student life projects scheduled for construction over the next three to four years. The projects will total some 1.4 million square feet in additional space for research, scholarship and residential life initiatives.
The lead architectural firm for the Crossroads Project is The S/L/A/M Collaborative. RATIO Architects is the co-designer. Other consultants include Workshop Architects for the student center and HOK for the recreation, fitness and hospitality areas. The contractor is Barton Malow Co.
