JV Tapped to Manage LA Coliseum Makeover

By Barbra Murray

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is getting a massive makeover, and a joint venture of Hathaway Dinwiddie and AECOM will handle the job. The partners were chosen by the University of Southern California, operator of the historic sports stadium, to manage the $270 million restoration and renovation of the renowned 93,607-seat arena.  

It’s a big undertaking for a big-name destination—no other facility in the world can claim to have hosted two Olympiads; two Super Bowls; a World Series; a Papal Mass; and visits by three U.S. presidents. The stadium has also served as home of the USC Trojans college football team since its 1923 debut.

“The Coliseum is a celebrated and notable landmark in Los Angeles, requiring a team of experts uniquely qualified to preserve its historical integrity,” Eric Schreiner, executive vice president of AECOM’s Construction Services group, said in a prepared statement.

USC, which operates the property under a 98-year lease agreement with local government and the State of California, will have help financing the sweeping upgrade. Just one day before announcing the selection of Hathaway Dinwiddie and AECOM as project managers, the university revealed that it had signed a naming rights deal with United Airlines to support the roughly quarter-billion-dollar endeavor. Per the 16-year agreement, the Coliseum will be officially renamed United Airlines Memorial Coliseum upon completion of the renovation in 2019.

The right resume

Hathaway Dinwiddie and AECOM bring to the Coliseum contract, Schreiner added, “unparalleled sports building expertise and the latest in construction technology.” The proof is in the projects.

AECOM’s Hunt Construction Group acted as construction manager for the recently completed $425 million renovation of the Dolphins’ Stadium, home base for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The fully integrated firm is also teaming with Turner Construction Co. as general contractor for the $2.6 billion stadium for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.

For its part, Hathaway Dinwiddie, which has worked with USC before, is currently serving as general contractor for the $1.2 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles. Additionally, along with partner Clark Construction Co., the company recently completed construction of the $1 billion Salesforce Tower, the tallest building in San Francisco.

And that’s just to name a few qualifications.   

Image courtesy of University of Southern California