Rapides Parish Coliseum expansion taking shape

The expansion component of the Rapides Parish Coliseum renovation project is taking shape, and it’s becoming quite a sight to see, a project official said.

“With all the steel up now, everybody can get a good view of how big the final facility is going to be. It’s pretty awe-inspiring, I think, when you take a look at how much we’re growing the Coliseum and increasing that facility’s footprint,” said Bill Tudor of Alliance Design Group.

Tudor, whose firm is overseeing the $22.9 million renovation project for the Rapides Parish Police Jury, said the overall project is “moving very well.”

“The rain has created some mud situations, but it hasn’t hurt our schedule (overall). The nice thing is … the steel was already up, and we got our foundations in” before the heavy rains, Tudor said in an update for police jurors.

The exterior work will include “re-skinning the old building,” according to Adam Grunzinger, project architect for Alliance Design Group. That means “once the new building is up, you won't see any more of the old building."

Mud from recent wet weather has slowed some plumbing work, Tudor said, which in turn delays getting the slab in so that new walls can go up.

Meanwhile, work inside the Coliseum is proceeding.

“Inside, the new walls are in. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing is roughed in. They are waiting to get the roof on the new sections before they’ll start actually drywalling and closing up those walls to get it weather-tight,” Tudor said.

Final signed documents have been received from the state for an agreement on using state land for parking, he said, “so that’s a done deal.”

“It just seems like everything’s on schedule,” said Juror Scott Perry. He chairs the Courthouse and Tourism Committee, and he expects the renovated Coliseum to provide a big boost to tourism by drawing people to the parish for events.

Progress is being made on removal of the livestock barn behind the Coliseum, Tudor said.

That barn drew only $500 in a recent auction, but jurors were happy that it sold at all because the new owner is removing the barn from the site, saving the jury $60,000 to $70,000 in demolition costs.

Jurors officially have removed the livestock barn from the Coliseum’s list of assets/inventory. They also removed from the list the agricultural barn, which was dismantled and relocated by the National Guard; and numerous other Coliseum items that were auctioned off in May.

The funds derived from the auctions, which were handled by juror Bubba Moreau at no charge, and money saved by not having to pay to demolish the barns are being put into the renovation project.

Livestock barn auction nets $500, saves $60,000-plus

The Coliseum has been closed since April 2014. Renovation work began in late April this year after city of Alexandria and Police Jury officials resolved a lengthy dispute over jointly owned land needed for parking.

Ratcliff Construction Co. of Alexandria is the lead contractor for the renovation, which is scheduled to be completed in December 2016. The project is funded by a 2.5-mill property tax approved by parish voters in November 2012.

The 50-year-old Coliseum is getting a face-lift on the exterior of the building; added space to accommodate larger crowds than in the past; sound-system, lighting system and other technology upgrades; expanded and resurfaced parking; additional locker room and dressing room facilities; the addition of suites; and new seating.