The top structural beam was put into place Thursday at PK Park, putting to close another stage of construction of Oregon’s new baseball field.
 
The beam, which is the final crossbeam of the roof, was set at a height of 47 feet, 10 inches, and it is one of the last “structural” components needed.
 
Steve Stearns, the superintendent of Lease Crutcher Lewis Construction, said that with the placement, the crew will be able to stop work with the crane and start more on the interior. Stearns also said that the outlook for the completion is “on time” and if he had to estimate, the park is about 70 percent complete.
 
“The schedule is constantly changing,” Stearns said. “But where we thought we would be to where we are now, we are ahead of schedule.”
 
But if one walks inside on the infield, there are still some noticeable things left to finish.
 
There are no seats because the crew is working on the foundation underneath them, and the back structure where the press box and eight suites will be is just an empty shell right now.
 
The roof also needs to be closed in, but Stearns said with the good weather the past week, there is no reason the crew should miss the late-February finish line.
 
“Our completion date with everything added is the 26th of February,” Stearns said. “If we get done early, it will give us time to make certain everything is going well.”
 
Senior associate athletic director Joe Giansante said the final budget is just over $19 million for the park, and at capacity it will fill 3,100 seats. Add in standing room only and the beer garden aptly named “Fowl Territory” and he estimated that the Ducks could squeeze 3,700 once everything is said and done.
 
“Everything has gone smooth,” Stearns said. “Guys are working well and there are no delays.”
[email protected]