The Italian travertine that gave the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum's peristyle its historic look since opening in 1923 had lost a bit of its shine. But giving the 96-year-old building a modern twist necessitated much more than a quick polish. The $315 million renovation required architects, building engineers, and sound engineers to revamp the modernity of the stadium while creating a brand-new, seven-story premium tower without losing a single piece of the venue's historic stone façade. It wasn't an easy task.
The Coliseum—next door to the campus of the University of Southern California and home to USC football, temporary home to the NFL's L.A. Rams, and past host of two Olympics, the World Series, Super Bowls, and the Pope— oozes history. (The venue will also hold its third Olympics in 2028.) So to allow one of the nation's most decorated stadiums to continue its traditions, USC officials knew that not only did the venue need a refurbishment, but it also demanded a complete rethinking of premium space, as a 3,000-capacity Scholarship Tower had to open in time for football this fall.
Read Full Article »