The Campus Planning Committee met early Wednesday morning to discuss concerns about the new basketball arena, which is scheduled to be built on Howe Field.
University Vice President for Administration Dan Williams spoke on the behalf of University President Dave Frohnmayer, who asked the planning committee to help with the arena process, and answered questions on everything from parking concerns to making the new arena energy efficient.
Williams said a big reason for building the new arena was simple business economics. Generating more revenue by expanding the arena was better than increasing the price of tickets, he said.
Architecture Professor G Z Brown expressed the most concern about whether or not the arena will be energy efficient. Brown encouraged the committee to ask for energy efficiency as soon as possible so architects can plan it into the design.
Outdoor Program Coordinator Dan Geiger expressed his concern about the pace of the project. Geiger said he is concerned that the arena’s fast track will displace other programs currently using the area where the new building will go, such as the Outdoor Program.
“Soon there will be bulldozers at our door,” he said.
Williams reassured Geiger and the coordinators of other programs that will be displaced that construction will be scheduled to secure the fewest amount of delays and inconveniences.
“I think we’ll learn from this experience,” Williams said. “We hope we can avoid unnecessary delays.”
Planning committee members also spoke extensively on presenting a long-range plan to the architects. There will soon be an open forum, and planning committee Chairwoman Carole Daly suggested inviting the architects to attend.
Planning committee members are now going to work on a letter to send to Frohnmayer outlining the goals of the committee.