Report: USC Could Spend Up to $600 Million in LA Coliseum Renovation

Since USC gained control of the LA Coliseum last year, the school and athletic director Pat Haden has made it clear they intend on renovating the historic 91-year-old stadium.

In a report from Max Meyer of Neon Tommy on Thursday night, the price tag is in flux but could reach as high as $600 million. And more specifically, USC has nailed down it’s architect per Meyer: The DLR Group.

Per a source, #USC is using architecture firm DLR Group to renovate LA Coliseum. Price of renovation is between $300 million & $600 million.
— Max Meyer (@TheMaxMeyer) December 18, 2014

The DLR Group is no stranger to USC, having been the firm behind the modernization of Heritage Hall, which has earned rave reviews. With the Coliseum, there’s much more delicacy over the plans, given the history of the stadium’s traditional architecture like the Peristyle and Olympic torch.

If their works are an indicator, the DLR Group thrives in modern architecture. The University of Houston’s brand new TDECU Stadium and Nebraska’s Pinnacle Bank Arena are two high profile college stadia that they have designed, both state of the art.

After Solider Field in Chicago lost landmark status following a struggle to reincorporate classic elements of the stadium’s design during renovation, it’s easy to see why the Coliseum’s next phase is about finding a delicate balance between being modern and historic.

Back in April, Haden spoke to that point, emphasizing that USC had guidelines to follow.

"We have recently given facelifts to some of our campus athletic facilities, like Heritage Hall and the Uytengsu Aquatics Center, to the benefit of future generations of student-athletes and the Trojan Family. I believe we can do the same for the Coliseum, while keeping in mind that this is a historic landmark and preservation guidelines must be followed."

Expanding on just athletics facilities, USC really has done a great job of bridging existing architectural motifs with new buildings like the Ronald Tutor Campus Center and the brand new Wallis Annenberg Hall.

Hopefully a new-look Coliseum can follow suit.

Report: USC Could Spend Up to $600 Million in LA Coliseum Renovation

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