FLORENCE – A major construction milestone at the University of North Alabama was reached Thursday with the topping out ceremony for Bank Independent Stadium.
“Today’s Topping Out is one of many milestones in the construction of Bank Independent Stadium that UNA and North Alabama Athletics will be celebrating,” said UNA Director of Athletics Dr. Josh Looney. “We continue to work closely with our partners at HPM to ensure timelines and each phase fall into place on schedule.”
UNA officials, staff and students gathered with representatives from Birmingham-based program management firm HPM and the community for the event that signifies the placement of the final structural beam.
HPM is serving as the program manager for the $65 million multipurpose facility on UNA’s campus. The project, which will be the university’s first dedicated stadium, broke ground in June 2024 for an anticipated opening in fall 2026.
In addition to athletic practices and sporting events, Bank Independent Stadium is designed to host concerts, live performances and other community events.
Bobby Wallace Field at Bank Independent Stadium will feature a three-level press tower with concessions, restrooms, suites, a club level and a “home tunnel” connecting the home locker room to the adjacent CB&S Bank Arena.
Related story: Football, baseball fields at Bank Independent Stadium named for legendary UNA coaches
The venue will redevelop the athletic complex that previously included the UNA turf practice field, Mike D. Lane Field and band practice field, incorporating UNA’s football, baseball and soccer teams and marching band into the reimagined design.
“Our student-athletes, coaches and staff are eager to use this great facility to enjoy football, soccer and baseball games,” Looney said.
The design will provide 360-degree concourse access, allowing fans to circulate the facility without having the stadium structure block their view.
This project represents the first partnership between HPM and UNA. Additional project partners are Davis Architects as the architect, Ampere as the sports consultant and Fite Building as the general contractor.
As part of a separate package, HPM will also oversee the addition of a 2,760 square-foot video board for the stadium. This is soon starting construction at the northeast end of the stadium.
“Bank Independent Stadium is a long-awaited project that the community has been excited about since its announcement, and HPM is proud to help bring the school’s dynamic vision to life along with our numerous design and construction partners,” said Matt Ernst, Senior Project Manager at HPM.
HPM’s other projects include Bryant Denny Stadium, Sewell Thomas Stadium, Rhoades Softball Stadium, Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility, Coleman Coliseum and Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility at the University of Alabama; the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Protective Life Stadium; and Texas Tech’s Jones AT&T East Side Stadium.
HPM also provided program management for the construction of Regions Field and the renovation of Legacy Arena in Birmingham.
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