Ferrell Center Renovation

3,528 Views | 23 Replies | Last: 7 mo ago by Bearly
baylorguy09
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10:07a, 5/22/25
I know it is not necessarily basketball related anymore... but the Regents are voting this morning on a significant renovation to the Ferrell Center.

Behind a paywall, but the Waco Trib released the information prior to the vote this week in the paper:

Ferrell Center to get major remodel; Baylor regents meet Friday

Notes:
"BU officials have declined official comment until Friday's action, but a newsletter from the Waco office of Associated General Contractors of America references the work planned there. It says about 9,000 square feet of interior space at the court level of the existing arena and practice facility will be remodeled. Work will include "an additional area for sport flooring replacement," the description said.

The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, "interior demolition, new interior walls, ceilings, finishes, millwork and (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection and suppression) distribution to the affected spaces." Mazanec Construction will oversee the work, but is soliciting bids from general contactors with interest in carrying it out.

An official with Mazanec Construction said work likely would begin in August, but referred additional comment to the university."
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LTBear19
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3:00p, 5/22/25
Maybe we should go back and play our games there.

Seems like we had more success at the dome.
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EvilTroyAndAbed
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In reply to LTBear19 • 4:50p, 5/22/25
LTBear19 said:
Maybe we should go back and play our games there.

Seems like we had more success at the dome.


Yeah, that's the reason
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fredbear
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9:21p, 5/22/25
Just remodeling 9,000 sq feet? Hardly seems noteworthy. Of course BU will Pay untold
Millions for tiny remodel. Surely i misunderstand?
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TWD 1974
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In reply to EvilTroyAndAbed • 9:23a, 5/23/25
EvilTroyAndAbed said:
LTBear19 said:
Maybe we should go back and play our games there.

Seems like we had more success at the dome.


Yeah, that's the reason
We had a tough year, but we are still winning over 80% of the time at Fosters. We have 2 inexplicable losses to TCU at Fosters (perhaps the purple and the bad camera angles interfere with our brainwaves or something), 2 unsurprising losses to Houston and one to Arizona. I would halt the demolition till we have more data.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
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JP1037
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10:05a, 5/23/25
Maybe it's donor targeted money that has no bearing on our overall budget but seems like low priority spending otherwise in an era where money is a bigger concern than it's been in my memory.

Outside of tumbling,volleyball and graduation what does Ferrell do for Baylor? It seems very sufficient for those purposes.
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GoodOleBaylorLine
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In reply to TWD 1974 • 11:59a, 5/23/25
TWD 1974 said:
EvilTroyAndAbed said:
LTBear19 said:
Maybe we should go back and play our games there.

Seems like we had more success at the dome.


Yeah, that's the reason
We had a tough year, but we are still winning over 80% of the time at Fosters. We have 2 inexplicable losses to TCU at Fosters (perhaps the purple and the bad camera angles interfere with our brainwaves or something), 2 unsurprising losses to Houston and one to Arizona. I would halt the demolition till we have more data.

Record at Ferrell:

Men: 378 - 166 -- 69%

Women: 432 - 99 -- 81%

I'd guess women are on about the same clip at Foster. Men way ahead

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Adriacus Peratuun
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12:03p, 5/23/25
Title IX compliance. Specifically facilities compliance.

Moving to Foster was the last large component on reaching compliance. Ferrell now gets counted twice as a Female Specific facility since Volleyball and A&T seasons do not overlap.

However as Baylor builds, adds to, renovates FB specific facilities it has to also engage in substantially similar activities on female specific facilities to maintain that compliance.
Also it is highly likely that Baylor's insurance policy plays a part in the work. With most of the athletic footprint being in the flood plain and policy coverage exclusions likely pushing office space and similar to upper floors, don't be surprised by renovations that increasingly alter Ferrell's upper floor usage/layout. Ferrell has a boatload of square footage that can be converted to office space for other sports while the lower floors remain "dedicated" to volleyball and A&T.

Basketball, Tennis, Golf, T&F and CC (and even baseball/softball)……..those are easy items for Title IX. Comping Soccer/Equestrian/Volleyball/A&T facilities to FB facilities is tougher. Don't be shocked when Equestrian & Soccer facilities also get some new love next. It is a dance.
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Yogi
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12:25p, 5/23/25
The same week Trump comes out with this... hmmm...


"Smarter than the Average Bear."
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TWD 1974
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In reply to Adriacus Peratuun • 2:27p, 5/23/25
Adriacus Peratuun said:
Title IX compliance. Specifically facilities compliance.

Moving to Foster was the last large component on reaching compliance. Ferrell now gets counted twice as a Female Specific facility since Volleyball and A&T seasons do not overlap.

However as Baylor builds, adds to, renovates FB specific facilities it has to also engage in substantially similar activities on female specific facilities to maintain that compliance.
Also it is highly likely that Baylor's insurance policy plays a part in the work. With most of the athletic footprint being in the flood plain and policy coverage exclusions likely pushing office space and similar to upper floors, don't be surprised by renovations that increasingly alter Ferrell's upper floor usage/layout. Ferrell has a boatload of square footage that can be converted to office space for other sports while the lower floors remain "dedicated" to volleyball and A&T.

Basketball, Tennis, Golf, T&F and CC (and even baseball/softball)……..those are easy items for Title IX. Comping Soccer/Equestrian/Volleyball/A&T facilities to FB facilities is tougher. Don't be shocked when Equestrian & Soccer facilities also get some new love next. It is a dance.
"Ferrell has a boatload of square footage that can be converted to office space for other sports"

Always thought of it as an airplane hangar waiting to happen...
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
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GoodOleBaylorLine
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2:28p, 5/23/25
GoodOleBaylorLine
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2:29p, 5/23/25
Yogi

In that case, bring back this guy

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Booboo Bear
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In reply to Yogi • 3:08p, 5/23/25
Yogi said:
The same week Trump comes out with this... hmmm...



Underrated post.
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Adriacus Peratuun
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In reply to TWD 1974 • 3:33p, 5/23/25
TWD 1974 said:
Adriacus Peratuun said:
Title IX compliance. Specifically facilities compliance.

Moving to Foster was the last large component on reaching compliance. Ferrell now gets counted twice as a Female Specific facility since Volleyball and A&T seasons do not overlap.

However as Baylor builds, adds to, renovates FB specific facilities it has to also engage in substantially similar activities on female specific facilities to maintain that compliance.
Also it is highly likely that Baylor's insurance policy plays a part in the work. With most of the athletic footprint being in the flood plain and policy coverage exclusions likely pushing office space and similar to upper floors, don't be surprised by renovations that increasingly alter Ferrell's upper floor usage/layout. Ferrell has a boatload of square footage that can be converted to office space for other sports while the lower floors remain "dedicated" to volleyball and A&T.

Basketball, Tennis, Golf, T&F and CC (and even baseball/softball)……..those are easy items for Title IX. Comping Soccer/Equestrian/Volleyball/A&T facilities to FB facilities is tougher. Don't be shocked when Equestrian & Soccer facilities also get some new love next. It is a dance.
"Ferrell has a boatload of square footage that can be converted to office space for other sports"

Always thought of it as an airplane hangar waiting to happen...
It is currently one big open ugly space.

But pull the concrete risers from [think numbers are correct] Sections 101-124 and (1) the remaining lower bowl is Right Sized for anticipated use while (2) the "then empty" square footage above the concourse and surrounding the lower bowl can be converted to team meeting areas, support staff offices, etc. A structure designed to load bear those risers can likely handle office space buildout. The coaching staffs are already entrenched in the former MBB & WBB practice facilities/offices. Simply overflow that has many square feet.

The goal not being to win Architectural Digest awards but to Square Foot facilities match Fudge [as a whole].

Conceptually thinking of that hideous building on UT campus that was next to Gregory Gym which was converted for athletics office space for many years until it was torn down about 20 years ago. Not a permanent solution but a "keep on the right side of the Title IX line until the financial situation allows a permanent fix".

Fudge added a ton on the male side of the Title IX ledger. The absence of matching fundraising on the women's side screams temporary quick fix.
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whitetrash
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In reply to Yogi • 3:41p, 5/23/25
Yogi said:
The same week Trump comes out with this... hmmm...


But will Trump's Golden Dome have a nipple on top?

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Bobby20
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3:53p, 5/23/25
Remodel it into a hotel and conference center. Most Baylor athletic programs will be dead and gone soon anyway.
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Yogi
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9:24p, 5/23/25
In that case, move Chapel there...
"Smarter than the Average Bear."
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Stefano DiMera
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9:44p, 5/23/25
I miss the Heart O ' Darkness...I mean Heart O' Texas Coliseum..
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Delmar 2.0
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7:10a, 5/24/25
You mean the Hot Collie
I ain't quite as dumb as I seem
-- (P.C. 1974)
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HunterBear
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In reply to Stefano DiMera • 10:35p, 5/24/25
Stefano DiMera said:
I miss the Heart O ' Darkness...I mean Heart O' Texas Coliseum..



I could walk in most games and get a prime seat at or near mid court.
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fredbear
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11:04p, 5/25/25
If FC is reduced to lower arena, where would graduation take place? Football stadium?


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Stefano DiMera
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In reply to fredbear • 11:19a, 5/27/25
Pickleball courts at Marrs McLean
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Bear2014
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2:23p, 5/27/25
They're renovating it for acro & tumbling and volleyball. There's no need for 10,000 seats for those sports and we dont have 10k at graduation either. If they can make it more modern, it could be awesome
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Bearly
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In reply to Bear2014 • 10:27a, 5/28/25
Went to four commencements at Ferrell this month. It was full each time.
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