WILLIAMSBURG — There are several challenges that go into a $27 million renovation. In the case of Zable Stadium, which has been around since FDR’s first term, it was important to add a modern touch while not clashing with the historic appearance.
Charles Tilley of BCWH Architects has managed to do that. The addition will include the same Flemish bond brickwork that should blend in not only with the original configuration but also the surrounding campus of William and Mary.
“Bringing all these amenities together, we really wanted to look at the history of the stadium and how we could express that in the architecture we’re going to wrap around the existing stadium,” Tilley said. “A fair amount of effort went around trying to plan the size and scale of these things relative to the classical architecture.”
Helped by a favorable winter, construction is expected to be finished several weeks before the Tribe’s Sept. 17 home opener against Norfolk State. Substantial completion, at which point the stadium can be used, has been set for July 1.
When that happens, 81-year-old Zable Stadium will have a very different look.
“Most of our fans never thought they’d see something quite like this at Zable Stadium,” W&M athletic director Terry Driscoll said. “The biggest thing I’m excited about is the game-day experience for the people coming to the games with the new seats, concession stands, bathrooms and things that we’ve not been up to speed on.”
Prior to Saturday’s spring game, Tilley took reporters and W&M employees on a tour of the project. The stands on the west side have added an upper deck that includes a press box and 11 luxury suites. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s coming together.
The concourse will include televisions, so fans can keep up with the game, along with more restrooms and concession stands.
“A large part of this project was about creating a first-class fan game-day experience,” Tilley said. “So there are a lot of fan zones … that will help the fan experience the game in a different way.”
Seating capacity won’t change much. It was 11,686 last season and will now be approximately 12,400.
“The goal was not to expand the stadium,” Driscoll said.
W&M football coach Jimmye Laycock, whose office overlooks the construction, took his own tour two weeks ago. Asked his thoughts, Laycock happily went into golf mode.
“That’s like asking me, ‘What did you think when you went down and played Augusta?'” Laycock said. “It pretty well speaks for itself. It’s a very impressive thing, whether it’s recruits, whether it’s alumni, whether it’s fans, whatever it is. You come in here and see that, shoot, it’s great.”
Johnson can be reached at 757-247-4649.
