Fall 2020 - 1736 Magazine

The asymmetric roof lines of the
proposed arena would contrast to
the boxy appearance of the existing
40-year-old structure designed by
I.M. Pei. Architecture firm Perkins +
Will, a leading designer of mid-sized
market performing arts venues, said
a pentagonal dome would top the
100-foot-tall arena.
The wing between the arena and
auditorium would house offices,
concessions space and wide-open
spaces that make the existing arena’s
concourses feel claustrophobic.
The 10,000- to 12,000-seat arena is
the result of a market analysis created
by Atlanta-based Russell SPACE
Venues and Hunden Strategic Partners,
which found metro Augusta has quadrupled
in size since construction of
the existing arena in 1980. Its small size
and outdated infrastructure cannot
accommodate many modern touring
acts.
Designers are recommending more
than 10,000 seats, with a lower-bowl
capacity of at least 6,500. Higherpriced
seats would include 1,050
premium seats, 12 suites and several
loge boxes, which are a hybrid
between stadium and suite seats.
Most of the existing arena’s 150,000
annual users are attendees of high
school graduations.
Projected costs are $170.5 million
for demolition and construction, $15.3
million for site work and $30 million in
soft costs. Adding an 18,500-squarefoot
ballroom would add $16.7 million,
a parking deck $18.5 million and an
arena ice system $4 million.
Augusta Commission members
have been asked to put $25 million
in the Special Purpose Local Option
Sales Tax 8 package to help fund the
construction.
Augusta-Richmond County
Coliseum Authority members began
studying a larger arena project in 2014.
The project was delayed between
2017 and 2019 by a failed attempt to
relocate the arena from downtown to
the former Regency Mall property in
south Augusta.
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