Steel Erector: Hardy Construction

Project Description:

Butler Manufacturing of Annville, PA, and High Steel Structures Inc. teamed up to fabricate steel framing used to build a new athletic center at West Point, a project that began in June 2006. Butler Manufacturing had the lead on designing the frames and called upon assistance from High Steel as an efficient approach to making the larger components for the project. High Steel has found that providing strategic assistance to building fabricators such as Butler is a logical application of their core competencies in the bridge-building industry.

In 2005, the United States Military Academy announced an initiative that would complete the Michie Stadium Athletic Complex begun in 2001. The key addition was the indoor athletic training facility.

Following a year-long process of design and construction planning, it was determined that a pre-engineered steel building system would be best suited to create the unique features planned for the new 92,400-square-foot building. The indoor training facility is unlike the field houses or athletic facilities found on most college campuses. The building has unusually high (65 feet) ceilings to accommodate punting, kicking, and return drills.

The project was funded by the largest single donation in the history of the federal Service Academies—a $15 million donation to West Point’s Association of Graduates from Bill and Carol Foley. Mr. Foley graduated from the Military Academy in 1967 and was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force where he reached the rank of Captain.

The facility is named the Foley Athletic Center in recognition of Mr. Foley’s donation, which is the largest single gift in the history of West Point. Construction was completed in January 2007.

In all, more than 825 tons of steel were used to construct the facility.

For more project information and photos, we recommend the following web site:

Army Black Knights - goarmysports.com