by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Nearly six years old, the Arena is experiencing pains similar to that of a child of the same age left alone in a candy store.
Two large cavities have been exposed in the underside of the roof on the west side of the multipurpose facility built with Better Jacksonville Plan funds.
“We are working with the City’s Public Works Department to get the roof fixed,” said Bob Downey, general manager of SMG, which operates the Arena and several other facilities for the City. “We know it is a priority.”
At $130 million, the Arena was the second highest priced project included in the Better Jacksonville Plan’s public facilities component, with the highest being the Duval County Courthouse at $211 (the final price tag is set at $350 million). Turner Construction was the general contractor for the Arena, and is the general contractor for the new Courthouse, and the former HOK sport, now Populous, designed the Arena. The multipurpose facility opened its doors Nov. 21, 2003, as part of a plan to offer improved public facilities and was one of several vertical projects with the BJP that also included the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, a new Main Library and branch libraries and the Equestrian Center.
The Arena was a facility that met that goal until Tropical Storm Fay brought high winds and heavy rains to Jacksonville late last August. The winds caused a section of the soffit system to be blown out of the overhanging part of the roof on the west side of the building facing the rear parking lot. The vented pieces of metal help to control attic temperature and air flow under a roof overhang. That damage was repaired with plywood, but two more holes, that could each be plugged by a Volkswagen, have developed.
“The holes allow air to enter the top of the Arena and make it difficult to regulate the humidity in the building,” said Downey. “It made it difficult to get rid of the ice we use in the rink during the public ice skating over the Fourth of July weekend.”
The process to repair the roof hasn’t been slowed by the search for funding. Downey pointed out there is Better Jacksonville Plan money available for the maintenance of the facility. The repairs do have to go through design-build and procurement processes, though.
“A water intrusion issue in the roof has made it necessary to replace the soffit system,” said Kristen Beach, media relations officer for the City. “Our engineering department has completed about 60 percent of the design phase to replace the soffit system. Once we reach 60 percent, we will have a better idea of what the project will cost and we can go through the CSPEC (Competitive Sealed Proposal Evaluation Committee) process.”
If the project moves along as planned, construction could begin Nov. 1 to repair the roof, Beach said.
The Better Jacksonville Plan was approved by voters in 2001 to improve Duval County’s buildings, roads and land. The $2.25 billion growth management plan is partially funded by a half cent sales tax that was approved by the voters.
Better Jacksonville Plan public facilities projects and their costs
• Duval County Courthouse – $211 million (BJP money only)
• Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena — $130 million
• New Main Library — $95 million
• New Library Branches and Renovations — $55 million
• Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville – $34 million
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