For Immediate Release: 8/21/2012 1:15 pm
Worcester, MA (August 21, 2012) - The SMG-managed DCU Center and City of Worcester announced today that a $17.5M renovation and expansion project to the city-owned Arena will begin November 1, 2012. The City of Worcester has selected Consigli Construction Company to provide construction management services.
The SMG-managed Arena, which will celebrate its 30-year anniversary this September, underwent an initial phase of capital improvements in the summer of 2009. At the completion of that scope of work, the City had invested approximately $8.5M to provide redundant power to the facility (tripling the size of the electrical vault), renovate the ice plant and ice hockey systems (dashers, glass, ice cover), replace the Convention Center carpet and improve the primary loading door access.
Beginning November 1, 2012, a second phase of work will commence – with Consigli Construction Company serving as the Construction Manager at Risk for the project. Consigli, one of ten companies bidding on the project, demonstrated significant experience with similar expansion and renovation projects.
Michael V. O'Brien, City Manager, said, "This planned $17.5M investment is critical to the DCU Center maintaining its status as one of the best venues of its size nationwide. The Worcester region and the Commonwealth as a whole will continue to benefit from the DCU Center as an economic engine." Mr. O'Brien said that while some construction work will occur in late fall, a majority of the work will be completed from May 1 to September 30, 2013 to minimize any financial impact to the facility and ensure no interruption to the regular calendar of events including the Worcester Sharks AHL regular season.
"The Worcester Sharks are very excited that our partners, the City of Worcester and SMG, the management company for the DCU Center, continue to invest in the improvement of the DCU Center in order to assist our organization on the ice and for the fans to better enjoy their experience," stated Michael A. Mudd, President of the Worcester Sharks. "We look forward to the renovations and we are proud to call the DCU Center our home."
Elements of the new design incorporate upgrades to both the interior and exterior of the facility. Interior renovations include a redesigned box office, four new event suites, new and upgraded restrooms, an expanded concourse and retail spaces. Additionally, improvements will be made to the mechanical and electrical systems, and include a new chiller plant, emergency generator and upgrades to the fire protection and security systems. The exterior work will complement the architectural and aesthetic design of the Convention Center as well as construction efforts currently underway within the CitySquare project just across the street from the Arena. Also included in the exterior improvements are a new façade, digital marquee, streetscape, and a landscaped promenade leading into the facility.
Sandy Dunn, General Manager of the DCU Center, stated, "The next phase of this multi-year capital improvement project is an important one as it will incorporate improved fan and client amenities. Our patrons and customers are the spirit of our industry; keeping them happy and returning ensures that the DCU Center remains competitive and sought after by advertisers, promoters and fans."
In October 2004, Digital Federal Credit Union, better known as DCU, and the City of Worcester entered into a naming rights partnership to rename the Arena and Convention Center to the DCU Center. DCU is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution cooperatively owned by and operated for its members. DCU is the largest credit union in New England, with assets of over $4 billion, and serves more than 360,000 members in all 50 states. Tim Garner, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Strategy for DCU, said of the renovations, "We applaud the ongoing effort of both SMG and the City of Worcester, including this phase of renovations, to ensure that every guest attending an event at the DCU Center has a first-class experience whether they are attending a concert, sporting event or family show."
The DCU Center is owned by the City of Worcester and managed by SMG, the world's leading private management and developing firm for public assembly facilities. Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides management services to over 200 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, performing arts centers, theatres and convention, conference and trade centers. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through SAVOR… Catering by SMG, which currently services 65 accounts worldwide.
