The group responsible for ongoing steel and concrete repairs at Chase Field is receiving international recognition for the scope and substance of their work, further highlighting the Maricopa County Stadium District’s (MCSD) good stewardship of the nearly 20-year-old ballpark.
“Chase Field Repairs” was named one of the three best concrete projects in the world by the International Concrete Repair Institute.
“We took great care in selecting companies with the skill needed to do the work, the integrity to do it right, and the intelligence to do it in a cost-effective way,” said Daren Frank, Director of the MCSD. “Being named a top 3 global project means a lot to all of us because it comes from experts in the field of concrete repair, dedicated to the highest possible safety and service standards. If we’re impressing them, we must be doing something right.”
Chase Field presented a unique challenge for project engineer Gervasio & Assoc. Inc, general contractors Caliente and Jokake Construction, and subcontractor Restruction Corp., all based in the Valley.
A 2011 assessment found corrosion damage to concrete and steel structures in the stadium. The corrosion is believed to be caused by pressure washing. The damage was not immediately obvious because leaking water never created a visible problem—it was all happening out of sight. Still, the assessment found that entire sections of the stadium should be shored up and repaired. Because Chase Field is a baseball stadium, the work had to be done during the off-season, from October through March.
Working within those constraints, the MCSD, the project engineer, and the contractors went about prioritizing fixes that not only mitigate damage but ensure the structural integrity of Chase Field for the long-term. To control costs, the MCSD and its partners developed a workflow to anticipate and track costs on a weekly basis.
“Fan safety is our #1 priority,” said Frank. “As the stadium owner, we don’t control general upkeep and maintenance of the stadium, but when structural challenges do emerge, we get the best people for the job and do the work according to best practices. No cutting corners.”
To date, the MCSD has spent more than $20 million on steel and concrete repair work with more expected in the coming years. The repair money comes from Stadium District reserve funds. No taxpayer money is used to complete repairs.
You can read about the project—its origins, challenges, and innovations—here.