State Farm Arena Transformation – Atlanta, Georgia

State Farm Arena (formerly Philips Arena), home to the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, WNBA’s Atlanta Dream and former NHL Atlanta Thrashers, underwent approximately $200 million in renovations. Russell, in association with Legends Project Development, served as program manager for these renovations.

Our efforts were centered on providing comprehensive solutions, which comprised: program planning and roll out; procurement and assistance in the selection of the architect, construction manager, and other consultants; development and maintenance of program schedule and budget; collaboration with project teams on behalf of the Hawks; assurance that all authorizations and permits were approved; evaluations and recommendations to the owner; and assurance that the client received high quality results.

Coincidentally, it was nearly two decades ago that Russell partnered as a joint venture to provide construction management at-risk services to build this popular landmark in downtown Atlanta. Complex challenges that the construction team faced included: demolishing and clearing the old arena in a busy, congested area; reworking the underground infrastructure; resolving traffic flow problems; and coordinating with City of Atlanta officials and private enterprise. At the time of completion, the arena provided seating for 20,000 with 100 luxury suites for private or corporate use. The arena hosts sporting events, concerts, and various other entertainment/exhibit functions. Philips Arena, which was completed in 1999, hosts 160 events and 1.6 million guests annually. Total project value was $145M.