Texas’s Top Projects - 40

Renovation of The Cotton Bowl

PROJECT COST: $43,000,000

The recent expansion of the Cotton Bowl took the facility from a seating capacity of 76,000 to 92,000 between January and September 2008 – an important date for the City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas. The State Fair of Texas, which is the largest state fair in the country, plays host every year to the Red River Rivalry, an annual football game featuring the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. It was crucially important that both phases of the renovation and expansion be complete in time for this event.

The scope of the project touched virtually every part of the facility. The concrete throughout the structure, much of which was from the original construction, required vast repairs and maintenance. The existing seating was replaced with new bench seating. Existing team locker room buildings were expanded and brought up to current standards. Concessions, restrooms and point of sale locations were also renovated.

Key Facts

Location: Dallas
Start/completion dates: January 2008/ September 2008
Owner: City of Dallas and State Fair of Texas, Dallas
General contractor: Charter Builders LTD, Dallas
Architect: Heery International Inc., Atlanta, Ga.
Structural and civil engineer: Jaster-Quintanilla Engineering, Dallas
MEP engineer: Campos Engineering, Dallas
Major subcontractors: Southern Bleacher Co., Graham, Texas; Burcamp Steel Co., Wichita Falls, Texas; Sizelove Construction Co. Inc., Euless, Texas