Patty Center to Receive Brand-New Seating for Gymnasium

Patty Center to Receive Brand-New Seating for Gymnasium

Construction Begins at the Patty Center

FAIRBANKS – The Alaska Nanooks are pleased to announce that the Patty Center will undergo a new seating replacement project this summer which will change the overall look and feel of the gymnasium.
 
The project began early last week with the removal of the aging wooden bleachers from the balcony area and the lower-lever bleachers will be removed in June. The scheduled date of completion for this project is slated for Aug. 16, which is two days before the Alaska volleyball program begins its preseason camp.
 
The old seating will be replaced with state-of-the-art stadium seating and bleachers on both sides of the gym and the balcony. The new capacity of the Patty Center will be 1,622, from the previous 2,000.
 
Blue stadium seating with backs and armrests will be installed on the floor level from baseline to baseline while bleacher seating, which is gold, will fill in the final space on each side to the wall and the entirety of the balcony. The bleacher seating will be molded and contoured seating for comfort. Hand rails and stairs will also be in place between sections as safety precautions.
 
"In terms of game environment and fan experience, this new seating will greatly enhance the positive game experience for fans since they will be so much more comfortable due to seat backs and arm rests," director of athletics Gary Gray said. "In addition, ascending and descending stairs will be safer due to hand rails and a comfortable rise in step height."
 
The new seats are currently being manufactured in Maine by the Hussey Seating Company and will ship to Fairbanks later this summer in time for installation.
 
The new seating in the gymnasium is part of the department's long-range facilities plan.
 
"At my previous institution, we completed this same gym seating installation with the same company and we were very pleased with the result," Gray said of his time as A.D. at Montana State Billings. "Before long, it will be hard to remember even what the old bleachers looked like. "Of course, the Nanooks' blue and gold color pattern will be great for promoting school spirit."
 
The Nanooks host home volleyball and basketball games inside the Patty Center and will be the site of the 2015 NCAA Rifle Championships next March.

Stay with alaskananooks.com for updates on the construction project throughout the summer.
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