In October, several SSR colleagues attended a breakfast panel hosted by Turner Construction Company, The Nashville Sports Council, and ACEC Tennessee about “The Future of Sports Facilities.” This event was hosted in First Horizon Ballpark (an SSR-designed facility) and was a great forum to listen and discuss the trends shaping the future of our industry. […]
After the tragic Surfside condominium collapse outside of Miami earlier this year, SSR was engaged by the ownership team of FTX Arena to provide a structural assessment of the building with a major focus on the parking garage. Home to the NBA’s Miami Heat, the arena was required by local authorities to have an outside […]
It’s no secret that professional athletics is a booming business. The average worth of the 50 most valuable teams is $3.4 billion (as of May 2021). The top three teams — the Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, and New York Nicks — are each valued at more than $5 billion! As the value of professional […]
Work on San Diego State University (SDSU) Snapdragon Stadium is progressing nicely and on track to host the 2022 season opener on September 3rd against the Arizona Wildcats. Recently in July, the stadium construction team reached a major milestone with the topping out ceremony with the last steel beam installed. Since then, the stadium has […]
Grand Hotel is often referred to as “America’s Summer Place.” Located on Northern Michigan’s Mackinac Island, the historic hotel is truly one-of-a-kind, and not because it has received the AAA Four Diamond Rating for 26 consecutive years. What sets Grand Hotel apart is the quaintness that comes with being located on an island that is […]
The Summer/Fall issue of Straight from the Tap highlighted two SSR colleagues for their outstanding achievements. I’m proud of the contributions that our team makes to the water/wastewater profession and it’s important to recognize their commitment to the industry. Luke Williams, PE, was recognized as the 2021 Water for People Kenneth J. Miller Award […]
SSR will soon be releasing a blog series centered on Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. The article below is a sneak peak at one of the posts in the series, specific to the future impact of electric vehicles on transportation planning and DOTs. While very few states have regulatory requirements around electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS), […]
Communities (cities, utilities, authorities, etc.) across the US consistently utilize hydrant flushing methods to clear sediments from their water distribution system. Water system flushing has long been considered an effective method to remove unwanted tastes, odors, or discolorations of the water, and to improve chlorine residuals. When a community considers implementing a flushing plan into […]
What would a day be like without water? Thursday, October 21st was the seventh annual Imagine a Day Without Water, a national education campaign that highlights how essential water is. SSR celebrated the week by highlighting the lesser known impact of water on projects across our many markets and service lines. SPORTS VENUES AND […]
While modern plumbing systems are comparatively advanced in design, the pipes and equipment that make up water infrastructure were not meant to last forever. Richard Chappell, PE, BCEE is an environmental and civil engineer in SSR’s Infrastructure Program. He says many of the pipes that carry water and wastewater have been in the ground for […]
As engineers, architects, and designers consider how to manage water usage for building development, there are several industry-wide rating systems in place that encourage water conservation. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is one rating system that places a high priority on water use reduction and conservation. Hannah Walter, […]
In addition to the obvious usage of water in the food manufacturing industry — as an ingredient, cleanser, etc. — water serves as a fundamental tool to transport and protect products throughout the manufacturing process. SSR has a longstanding relationship with a global food processing client which includes the recent design of a new processing […]
While all buildings require water for consumption, heating, cooling, and plumbing, access to clean water is arguably most critical in healthcare settings. Facilities such as the William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX have unique needs to be met in order to safely provide for patients and hospital staff. Lee […]
A sports and entertainment venue requires an abundance of resources to maintain and operate – especially one that hosts a top NBA team. Fortunately, the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Golden State Warriors, has several systems in place that efficiently and creatively minimize its environmental impact. SSR’s design consulting services within mechanical, […]
We are ready for some football! And basketball! And hockey! Real, in-person sports! After a 2020 fall that saw capped attendance at sporting events across the country, we are thrilled to see stadiums and arenas safely return to full capacity. As we approach every project, delivering a memorable fan experience is often a top goal […]
SSR has been providing engineering and consulting services to the sports and entertainment market for nearly three decades. Throughout that time, we’ve been privileged to work with dozens of owners with various degrees of experience with a major construction project. From these experiences, we’ve compiled our TOP 5 List of Design Considerations for an owner […]
As the Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs celebrates their first anniversary, we wanted to share some photos of the second phase of the project. At the conclusion of the 25,000 SF gaming hall addition, Kentucky Downs converted much of the old space into restaurants and other amenities for patrons to enjoy. SSR took great […]
Mike Rogers and Scott Terry recently attended the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) annual conference, VenueConnect 2021, in Atlanta. Representing public assembly venues (arenas, convention centers, amphitheaters, fairgrounds, performing arts centers, stadiums, universities, etc.) from around the world, the conference is an opportunity to bring all types of industry partners together for education, advocacy […]
The Mississippi River floods in April and May 2011 were among the largest and most damaging recorded along the U.S. waterway in the past century. The City of Dyersburg, TN, located 79 miles northeast of Memphis, was hit particularly hard with most of the flooding occurring in the community of South Town, one of the […]
In early May, a mechanical fracture was discovered during a routine inspection of the Interstate 40 bridge (Hernando DeSoto Bridge) over the Mississippi River. The bridge was closed to all traffic while the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) worked together evaluate the damage and determine the best solution for […]
This year’s Kentucky Tennessee Water Professionals Conference (KY/TN WPC) will take place August 15-18 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. After skipping the 2020 event, SSR is thrilled to once again see many of our clients, friends, and industry partners. Hosted by the Clean Water Professionals of Kentucky & Tennessee (CWP-KT) and the Kentucky/Tennessee Section of […]
Hi! I’m Kate MacIndoe, PE, Civil Engineer – Water/Wastewater, and this year’s Kentucky/Tennessee Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Young Professionals (YP) Chair. Part of my responsibilities as KY/TN AWWA YP Chair are to help coordinate the Water for Life event that takes place Sunday afternoon of the Water Professionals Conference. I am […]
SSR has been working on the whiskey bar at Choctaw Casino & Resort-Durant. The project is the reimagining of a former coffee shop into The Reserve, a new whiskey lounge and bar, as part of the resort’s capital improvement projects. SSR provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design for the new power, mechanical, lighting, and plumbing […]
This blog originally appeared on the Women in Healthcare blog. You can learn more about the organization here. Women in Healthcare, as an organization, is “committed to providing women in the healthcare industry with the community and tools needed to prosper and to allow them to have a seat at the table they want to […]
Sports and entertainment facilities need some of the most versatile controls when considering integration and operation of a building. Whether we’re talking about a stadium, arena, gaming space, or event space, controllability of lighting systems has many considerations when designing a new system or integrating into an existing one. Today, energy codes provide a […]
In 2018, SSR began working with a utility district in Middle Tennessee on the addition of a new force main at one of their largest pump stations for increased flexibility during wet weather events. The goal was to install a new 24” ductile iron force main approximately three miles in length along very difficult terrain […]
A hydraulic water model is a powerful tool that can aid in development impact assessment, master planning, fire flow analysis, and emergency response occurrences. Through the help of specialized software, such as InfoWater Pro, a community’s distribution system can be modeled as a network that includes many attributes such as diameter and length of pipes, […]
This year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), observed April 26-30, is themed “Drive Safe. Work Safe. Save Lives.” NWZAW is an annual campaign held at the start of construction season that encourages safe driving through highway work zones. The public awareness campaign was launched 21 years ago to encourage drivers to use extra caution […]
My engineering professors at Vanderbilt always told us that there’s only so much you can learn in the classroom and that we would have to be prepared to learn on the job after graduation. I knew they were right—the real world is a lot more complicated and unpredictable than carefully crafted homework problems—but I underestimated […]
In late 2020, league officials from both the NBA and NHL were looking at ways to protect both the players and fans in their arenas. Ahead of their respective seasons, each league published return to play protocols that included recommended and required measures. These guidelines prioritized measures intended to reduce the risk of transmission of […]
When the San Diego State University (SDSU) Aztec’s kick-off their 2022 season, they’ll be doing so in a brand new, state-of-the-art facility. The 35,000-seat stadium will be the first completed component of the redevelopment of the old Qualcomm Stadium, the former 135-acre home of the San Diego Chargers. Bashor Field at Aztec Stadium Located on […]
When is it ok to sacrifice our health for the sake of convenience? This has been a burning question for consumers and regulators as they work to implement a plan to reduce the hormone disrupting and cancer causing PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) – also known as forever chemicals – polluting many of our source […]
One of the most troublesome, yet often overlooked enemies of the water/wastewater industry is corrosion. It is estimated that the direct cost of dealing with corrosion in the United States totals $276 billion annually, $36 billion of which is spent in the water/wastewater (W/WW) industry alone. This estimate comes from a two-year study performed by […]
As cities and communities around the country continue grow, many local water departments and utilities are faced with challenges, particularly as it relates to infrastructure. The challenge of significant growth will be most felt by those that are the sole water provider for an area. Fortunately, technology has continued to advance and water modeling software […]
As we seek more information on the safest way to re-open our buildings during this pandemic, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has launched a set of pilot credits under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building rating system. These pilot credits provide sustainable best practices relative to disinfecting and cleaning, HVAC […]
In early September, the Mint Gaming Hall at Kentucky Downs, a 25,000 SF addition, opened to much fanfare. The premier gaming destination features 850 slot machines, a high stakes area, sophisticated central bar, and entertainment stage. SSR provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology design services for the project. Designing the mechanical system for […]
Since 2007, the School of Engineering at Vanderbilt University has hosted their annual Healthcare Design & Construction Symposium. In a typical year, the highly sought-after event is attended by 150 healthcare professionals from across the country. This year, due to restrictions stemming from COVID-19, the symposium went virtual, presenting eight sessions over two days to […]
Iconic but future-proof, innovative with a community-focus. These are some of the expectations of new sports and entertainment venues being built around the world. Ownership teams are looking for jaw-dropping designs that appeal to fans, deliver a competitive advantage to the home team, and often anchor a massive entertainment district intended to revitalize a community. […]
In August, the doors to Allegiant Stadium will open to the public for the first time, unveiling arguably one of the most exciting entertainment venues in the world. Less than three years after the groundbreaking ceremony, all eyes will be on the new home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. The 65,000-seat, almost $2 billion […]
In 2009, Texas Christian University (TCU) decided to embark on a transformative project for Amon G. Carter Stadium, the historic home to the Horned Frogs football team. Originally built in the early 1930s, the stadium had been gradually expanded over the years, but the athletic department and administration recognized a need for more space, improved […]
Unfortunately for the players of Super Bowl XLVII, any on-field action is probably the third-most memorable event for the casual viewer. The 2013 game is most known for either Beyoncé’s halftime show or for the lights going out early in the third quarter. Parts of the stadium went dark for over thirty minutes, leaving fans […]
Perhaps the future of gathering information about projects is in the air. SSR is testing that theory. Drones came into the public consciousness a few years ago, mostly as novelty holiday gifts. The new age alternative to remote-controlled airplanes, drones offered something additional — they could hover and they included ample space to mount a […]
Owners of sports and entertainment venues and design firms have long been focused on innovative design, comfort of their patrons, and facility performance. Over the past several years, the focus has shifted to include sustainability as a primary objective. As high-profile entertainment venues, sports facilities are in a unique position to showcase facility performance and […]
When changing from one event to another, building pressure and air flow can be a major concern for venue operations. Not only can they affect energy efficiency, a major concern for many owners, they can also affect air quality in the building, and, by extension, both patron experience and the event itself. In 2016, SSR […]
