Post by bigdave1310 on Dec 22, 2011 22:51:39 GMT -6
Vandergriff Plaza renovation taking shape
By Rush Olson
Under what circumstances might one use a term such as choreography when discussing a tanker truck-size grease interceptor? When it makes up part of the tightly coordinated construction project starting to take shape at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, implied Texas executive Rob Matwick.
Matwick, the team's vice president of ballpark and event operations, termed the ongoing work "the first major renovation in Rangers Ballpark, probably in the history of the park, when you look at the size of the renovation and the scale."
Workers broke ground the week the season ended but only recently have the outlines of structures become recognizable to fans watching via webcam or through gift shop windows. Recognizable is, of course, a relative term at this point in the process -- since it applies to a receptacle for cooking oil.
Rangers Ballpark upgrade update
00:02:48
12/22/11: Rangers EVP of ballpark operations Rob Matwick discusses the improvements being made to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Rangers on ballpark upgrades
"The crane we have on site today just excavated a 15-foot hole adjacent to the restaurant, and that is for placement of a 9,000-gallon grease trap," Matwick explained while watching an enormous yellow crane rotate in the middle of Vandergriff Plaza. "This will be the only time you ever get to see it unless we have to go do work on it. It's been exciting for our maintenance staff, because our guys have been able to go in and actually photograph a lot of this stuff as it's gone in. So that helps us down the road. If we run into a problem, we know where all the connections are."
Work has also continued on other elements intended to see direct use by customers and employees. Matwick pointed out the reconfigured visitors bullpen, now identifiable where bleachers formerly sat. He also noted a newly placed deck designed to improve access to the plaza, cement mixers working on new concession stands, utility piping to be installed into the planned Batter's Eye Club, and interior renovations for a two-level restaurant and children's area.
"It's going to become a destination," Matwick said of the project. "It becomes an area where a lot of people will gravitate to regardless of where they're sitting in the park."
A lot of work remains to get the ballpark ready for such crowds, but Matwick is pleased with his construction and architectural firms, saying they've kept the project on or ahead of schedule.
"Our goal is to try to get up and out of the ground with structure as soon as we can so that when we get into the January/February time of year, we can anticipate cold weather," he said. "Hopefully, at that point, on these outside spaces, we'll be working inside."
Watching the masons, equipment operators and approximately 50 others labor on different parts of the project at the same time creates quite a fascinating show for observers.
"It's been interesting to watch. We've called it 'choreography,'" Matwick said. "Every guy going somewhere has a purpose and a job he's trying to get done."
The dance of the workers must proceed at a rapid tempo in order to meet the Rangers' goals.
"We really have a short window to get this done," Matwick said. "The goal is to try to deliver the project by mid-March so that we all have an opportunity to get in there, test it out on the exhibition game [against the Diablos Rojos del México on April 3] and be ready for Opening Day."
Speaking of windows, some seem conspicuous by their absence, and another sits prominently by itself in the middle of the construction site. The missing windows stand covered in plastic near the entrance to the concourse.
"That piece of the restaurant will come forward. It will actually extend out on to the plaza," said Matwick. "The lower half will be an entry into the restaurant. The upper half will be an anchor position for Fox Sports Southwest."
The disembodied window appears to have dropped into place way ahead of schedule, since concrete has just begun pouring for the foundation of the Batter's Eye Club.
"Fans will look through that tempered glass. It's non-reflective, so the players don't see anything from the field side," Matwick explained. "We want to make sure it's not reflecting anything. We've put turf in front of it. We had people walk in front of it just to make sure."
The club hopes to have enough of the rebuilt Vandergriff Plaza in place by March 20 that the additions can be tested prior to the April 3 game.
Rush Olson is the creative director for media for the Texas Rangers. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Video of work being done
mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111222&content_id=26224748&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex&partnerId=rss_tex
By Rush Olson
Under what circumstances might one use a term such as choreography when discussing a tanker truck-size grease interceptor? When it makes up part of the tightly coordinated construction project starting to take shape at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, implied Texas executive Rob Matwick.
Matwick, the team's vice president of ballpark and event operations, termed the ongoing work "the first major renovation in Rangers Ballpark, probably in the history of the park, when you look at the size of the renovation and the scale."
Workers broke ground the week the season ended but only recently have the outlines of structures become recognizable to fans watching via webcam or through gift shop windows. Recognizable is, of course, a relative term at this point in the process -- since it applies to a receptacle for cooking oil.
Rangers Ballpark upgrade update
00:02:48
12/22/11: Rangers EVP of ballpark operations Rob Matwick discusses the improvements being made to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Rangers on ballpark upgrades
"The crane we have on site today just excavated a 15-foot hole adjacent to the restaurant, and that is for placement of a 9,000-gallon grease trap," Matwick explained while watching an enormous yellow crane rotate in the middle of Vandergriff Plaza. "This will be the only time you ever get to see it unless we have to go do work on it. It's been exciting for our maintenance staff, because our guys have been able to go in and actually photograph a lot of this stuff as it's gone in. So that helps us down the road. If we run into a problem, we know where all the connections are."
Work has also continued on other elements intended to see direct use by customers and employees. Matwick pointed out the reconfigured visitors bullpen, now identifiable where bleachers formerly sat. He also noted a newly placed deck designed to improve access to the plaza, cement mixers working on new concession stands, utility piping to be installed into the planned Batter's Eye Club, and interior renovations for a two-level restaurant and children's area.
"It's going to become a destination," Matwick said of the project. "It becomes an area where a lot of people will gravitate to regardless of where they're sitting in the park."
A lot of work remains to get the ballpark ready for such crowds, but Matwick is pleased with his construction and architectural firms, saying they've kept the project on or ahead of schedule.
"Our goal is to try to get up and out of the ground with structure as soon as we can so that when we get into the January/February time of year, we can anticipate cold weather," he said. "Hopefully, at that point, on these outside spaces, we'll be working inside."
Watching the masons, equipment operators and approximately 50 others labor on different parts of the project at the same time creates quite a fascinating show for observers.
"It's been interesting to watch. We've called it 'choreography,'" Matwick said. "Every guy going somewhere has a purpose and a job he's trying to get done."
The dance of the workers must proceed at a rapid tempo in order to meet the Rangers' goals.
"We really have a short window to get this done," Matwick said. "The goal is to try to deliver the project by mid-March so that we all have an opportunity to get in there, test it out on the exhibition game [against the Diablos Rojos del México on April 3] and be ready for Opening Day."
Speaking of windows, some seem conspicuous by their absence, and another sits prominently by itself in the middle of the construction site. The missing windows stand covered in plastic near the entrance to the concourse.
"That piece of the restaurant will come forward. It will actually extend out on to the plaza," said Matwick. "The lower half will be an entry into the restaurant. The upper half will be an anchor position for Fox Sports Southwest."
The disembodied window appears to have dropped into place way ahead of schedule, since concrete has just begun pouring for the foundation of the Batter's Eye Club.
"Fans will look through that tempered glass. It's non-reflective, so the players don't see anything from the field side," Matwick explained. "We want to make sure it's not reflecting anything. We've put turf in front of it. We had people walk in front of it just to make sure."
The club hopes to have enough of the rebuilt Vandergriff Plaza in place by March 20 that the additions can be tested prior to the April 3 game.
Rush Olson is the creative director for media for the Texas Rangers. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Video of work being done
mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111222&content_id=26224748&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex&partnerId=rss_tex