PROJECT OVERVIEW

Cardinal Stadium was built in 1996 with a precast concrete seating bowl. With a capacity of 42,000, the stadium hosted University of Louisville football games until the 2008 football season, after which the university developed a plan to expand and improve the facility. Coreslab provided the components for an expanded upper deck on the east side that increased seating capacity to 55,000. This portion of the work was completed in time for the start of the 2010 football season. The most recent addition, completed in 2018, was built in the north end zone seating area and closed the end of the bowl.

Read more about this project in the Winter 2023 issue of Ascent.

PRECAST SOLUTION

Precast concrete was the first choice of construction material for the original stadium and subsequent additions due to its low cost, durability, constructability, and ability to meet a demanding schedule.

Architect

Luckett & Farley, Rosser

Contractor

AECOM-Hunt, Messer Contruction

Owner

University of Louisville

Structural Engineer

Rosser

Precast Concrete Producer

Coreslab Structures Indianapolis

Key Project Attributes

• The project team coordinated with stadium management to ensure construction activities would not disrupt football games, concerts, summer camps, or any other activities.
• More than 10,000 additional stadium seats and 1730 new sheltered loge seats, with direct access to the interior loge-level club, provide prime views of the field.
• Precast concrete was the best choice for the project, as the pieces could be manufactured to order and delivered just in time for installation, saving valuable space on the fieldhouse floor for other construction trades.

Project/Precast Scope

• Recent expansion increased seating capacity to 55,000 and was built in the north end zone seating area and closed the end of the bowl.
• North end zone addition included 366 precast pieces: double tees, columns, raker beams, single and double seating risers, and tubs
• Easter upper deck addition included 670 precast pieces: single and double seating risers, tubs, wall panels, raker beams, and stair and landing units.