University of Oregon unveils stunning renditions for Hayward Field renovation

Today, the University of Oregon unveiled plans for the new Hayward Field, which will be ready to host the 2021 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in 2021. The designs are jaw-dropping, to say the least.

The stadium, which will be ready in 2020, will have a capacity of 12,900 fans which will be expandable to almost 30,000. The current capacity is 10,500, with an expandable capacity of 21,000.

The project is 100 percent funded by private donors, led by, you guessed it, Phil and Penny Knight. There are also contributions from over 50 other donors to cover the cost of the stadium.

There are three central themes to the design; theater, open and wood. The university wants to create a “theater” for track & field, create a structure that is open and airy, and create a heroic wood structure.

From the official release:

Architects set out to create the ultimate fan and athlete experience: a theater for track and field.

Hayward’s new stadium will visually represent Oregon, with roomy chair-back seats atop a stone base representing the majestic Cascade Range, timber beams overhead evoking Oregon’s lush fir forests, and a transparent roof providing expansive views of the emerald hills surrounding Eugene.

Much of the controversy around this project surrounded the historic east grandstands, which were erected in 1925. This project wanted to preserve the grandstands, but simply couldn’t, citing “a failing structure, noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, tight seating, obstructed sightlines, and virtually no amenities.” Instead, the grandstands will live on through exhibits and graphics.

The stadium will also include the nine-story Bowerman Tower, designed after the Olympic torch. It will feature interactive exhibits in the lobby about the famous coach, plus a 128-foot high observation deck with views of the track, campus, Eugene, and the hills beyond.

You can learn more about the project by going here.