Stadium plans proceed

By Staff
Osborn Architects selected for project
By Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
The Madison City School Board has named Fuqua Osborn Architects as the firm to build a 5,000-seat multi-purpose stadium and central office/teacher resource center.
The architectural firm is not a stranger to Madison school system. The company built Rainbow Elementary School and was chosen to design the new classroom addition to Discovery Middle School. The firm is currently building the new addition to Bob Jones High School.
The cost of the stadium and central office/teacher resource center is estimated at $4 million.
Danny Osborn of Fuqua Osborn Architects said the first step in the development of the project is the creation of a master plan for the site. Osborn said his firm would be meeting several times with the school board and all interested parties in the development of the master plan.
"After the development of the master plan, we will then design the stadium and the central office/teacher resource center," Osborn said.
Earlier this month, the Adjustments and Appeals Board gave its approval to the school board to buy the land that the stadium and central office will be located off Celtic Drive behind the Spencer Square shopping center.
Clark said approval by the Madison Planning and Zoning Board, the Madison City Council and the Adjustments and Appeals Board had to be given to get the facilities built and before an architect was chosen to design a master plan for the site. Ground testing at the site has already begun at the site.
"The central office will be moved out of the Sullivan Street location and into this new building – which will also contain an auditorium," Clark said.
Shielded lights and a 6-foot tall berm edging the west side of the property that borders the Home Place subdivision will be included in the project. The berm must be planted with vegetation that will grow up to six feet tall and be 80 percent opaque.
Osborn said this is the first time for his firm to actually build a multi-purpose stadium of this caliber and consultants and experts in this area will be sought.
According to the superintendent, within the next seven to 10 years, another high school will be built in Madison. Approximately 80 acres of property on County Line Road has been purchased for the new high school. With Bob Jones High School needing a new stadium for its various sporting events and with a new high school in place in less than 10 years, Clark said the multi-purpose stadium would solve those needs.