Indoor sports facility announced

[billhoward]

Why Cornell's facility might cost more than somebody else's indoor facility from 5+ years ago? Possible causes:

• Inflation
• Cornell requires a big set-aside for 10? 20? 25? more? years of upkeep; it feels like Cornell is more fiscally responsible
• Roof high enough to play lacrosse, ? soccer ? not just a roof good enough to practice for the games that are then played outside
• Spectator seating (some but not a lot)*
• Better lighting; some indoor fields are really dim  
• Nicer facility. Look at any sports facility Princeton built the last 30 years and theirs is nicer. Such as the 4,000-seat lacrosse/soccer Class of 1952 Stadium. As is their endowment (~$2 million per student vs. Cornell's $500K per student, even if this is donated not endowment money; it speaks to how much other Ivy schools can fundraise). The current soccer field feels like a HS facility, i.e. seats not elevated, albeit nicer exterior surround
• Does the cost include moving other fields around such as field hockey?
• Ground penetrating radar surveys so you don't be driving Meinig Fieldhouse pilings through the synchrotron ring (photo)

* I still have not heard how many fans can be accommodated. I believe lacrosse coach Connor Buczek described it as minimal but without citing a number.

[Trotsky]

• Ground penetrating radar surveys so you don't be driving Meinig Fieldhouse pilings through the synchrotron ring (photo)

TIL the synchrotron is only 40 feet deep.

[upprdeck]

you also cant be just constructing when synchrotron is in use that requires some planning.. like when they were doing the campus store and bio tech they could only do the  Dynomite/digging  certain times around the research projects.

this project has been on the books for several years already, so they have spent money and it still hasnt been approved by the city so more will be spent before it really gets off the groun.

[David Harding]

More details emerge with the filing of Site Plan Review paperwork.  https://ithacavoice.org/2023/12/cornell-shares-details-on-new-athletic-facility/
90,000 square feet.  56 feet tall.  $41M "hard costs".  Open winter 2025-26

As for the interior space, the application touts the desire for the new building to be "a campus hub" for varsity, club and intramural practices and a limited number of lacrosse competitions. The overall dimensions and height of the field house are intended to support a field that will be programmed to support NCAA requirements for both women's and men's varsity lacrosse competition; a varsity soccer pitch for practices; and the facility will host campus recreation, club and intramural sport teams.

A synthetic turf field with rubber/sand infill will comprise most of the usable ground floor space within the proposed building. The ground level will also contain a mechanical room, restrooms, a training room and storage. There will be a mezzanine level on the south side of the field, along with two team rooms, restrooms, an area for elevated filming and mechanical spaces, accessible by both stairs and elevator. Space along the south wall of the proposed building will provide an area for a limited number of spectators on both the field level and the mezzanine level.

The 23-page Site Plan linked from the Ithaca Voice story emphasizes the exterior aspects like storm water management.

[Ken711]

More details emerge with the filing of Site Plan Review paperwork.  https://ithacavoice.org/2023/12/cornell-shares-details-on-new-athletic-facility/
90,000 square feet.  56 feet tall.  $41M "hard costs".  Open winter 2025-26

As for the interior space, the application touts the desire for the new building to be "a campus hub" for varsity, club and intramural practices and a limited number of lacrosse competitions. The overall dimensions and height of the field house are intended to support a field that will be programmed to support NCAA requirements for both women's and men's varsity lacrosse competition; a varsity soccer pitch for practices; and the facility will host campus recreation, club and intramural sport teams.

A synthetic turf field with rubber/sand infill will comprise most of the usable ground floor space within the proposed building. The ground level will also contain a mechanical room, restrooms, a training room and storage. There will be a mezzanine level on the south side of the field, along with two team rooms, restrooms, an area for elevated filming and mechanical spaces, accessible by both stairs and elevator. Space along the south wall of the proposed building will provide an area for a limited number of spectators on both the field level and the mezzanine level.

The 23-page Site Plan linked from the Ithaca Voice story emphasizes the exterior aspects like storm water management.

The project architect, Sasaki, designed Dartmouth's indoor practice facility which is only 76,000 sq ft in size, not a full football field like Cornell's will be.

[David Harding]

Athletics now has a fancy web page.  https://cornellbigred.com/news/2023/10/13/general-meinig-fieldhouse-project.aspx

Athletics and physical education are critical parts of the Cornell experience, contributing in important ways to our students' wellness and sense of belonging. The new Meinig Fieldhouse will significantly enhance the opportunities available to our students to participate in both varsity athletics and recreational sports, and will serve as a welcoming place to build friendships and self-confidence. I am delighted to be making this important investment in our students' potential, and look forward to seeing Cornellians benefit from the Meinig Fieldhouse for decades to come.

[mike1960]

Athletics now has a fancy web page.  https://cornellbigred.com/news/2023/10/13/general-meinig-fieldhouse-project.aspx

Athletics and physical education are critical parts of the Cornell experience, contributing in important ways to our students' wellness and sense of belonging. The new Meinig Fieldhouse will significantly enhance the opportunities available to our students to participate in both varsity athletics and recreational sports, and will serve as a welcoming place to build friendships and self-confidence. I am delighted to be making this important investment in our students' potential, and look forward to seeing Cornellians benefit from the Meinig Fieldhouse for decades to come.

People are playing soccer with a lacrosse goal.

https://cornellbigred.com/documents/2023/10/20/Field_House-4pager-print-PP12b.pdf

[Mr. Niss]

I am in the construction industry.  You don't know what you're talking about with regard to cost escalations for both labor and materials since Covid.

[upprdeck]

looks more to me like 3 people are kicking a soccer ball around and some others are walking around the field

[Trotsky]

I am in the construction industry.  You don't know what you're talking about with regard to cost escalations for both labor and materials since Covid.

Is the materials spike permanent or was it an artifact of logistics issues?  I thought it was the latter, but I'm not in the biz.

[Mr. Niss]

I am in the construction industry.  You don't know what you're talking about with regard to cost escalations for both labor and materials since Covid.

Is the materials spike permanent or was it an artifact of logistics issues?  I thought it was the latter, but I'm not in the biz.

When prices go up, they rarely come back down much (if at all) ... materials prices  remain significantly increased from Feb 2020 notwithstanding some improvement in supply chain issues, and labor costs remain extremely high due to a shortage of laborers

[David Harding]

One step at a time.  Ithaca Planning Board has some suggestions.  
https://ithacavoice.org/2024/01/planning-board-reviews-continue-for-waters-edge-new-cornell-fieldhouse/#meinig-fieldhouse

[Ken711]

One step at a time.  Ithaca Planning Board has some suggestions.  
https://ithacavoice.org/2024/01/planning-board-reviews-continue-for-waters-edge-new-cornell-fieldhouse/#meinig-fieldhouse

I watched the session. They didn't read the submitted site review documentation very well. Some of their questions/concerns were explained there.  Anyway, I'm expecting it should move through the review process fairly smoothly, and construction to start in the Fall.

[Swampy]

One step at a time.  Ithaca Planning Board has some suggestions.  
https://ithacavoice.org/2024/01/planning-board-reviews-continue-for-waters-edge-new-cornell-fieldhouse/#meinig-fieldhouse

I watched the session. They didn't read the submitted site review documentation very well. Some of their questions/concerns were explained there.  Anyway, I'm expecting it should move through the review process fairly smoothly, and construction to start in the Fall.

Well, comparing the architect's rendition with the comment about landscaping, I'd have to agree with the planning board. The rendition shows a more-or-less generic building that could be in Kansas. How about at least a few trees in the foreground?

[Trotsky]

Local politics is typically which developer got the last bribe into the pols before the vote.  Is Ithaca the same way, or is there a different dynamic?