U of Ls YUM Center Nears 80% Completion Mark

It's time for another University of Louisville Men’s Basketball and Women’s Volleyball Practice Facility – The YUM! Center progress report. The 52,000 square, new construction structure is proving to be a catalyst for a growing, positive relationship between the University of Louisville and GBBN Architects.

The YUM! Center at 80% completion is now almost completely sealed in with glazing finishing on the front glass curtain wall of the building. With this Floyd Street façade really starting to come together, the building is beginning to take its final form very nicely. The masons have finished their work for the most part, and the rear and side facades of masonry and metal panel look great.

Inside, framing is about 80% complete, as well, and a lot of the gypsum board on the second floor has been hung and primed as the contractors work from top to bottom. The building has power, and the HVAC systems are due to be fired up any day now. 

As summer progresses and we work towards a mid-August substantial completion date, the contractor is moving at lightning speed on all issues. “We are expecting all of our subcontractors to work at every available time to reach this completion date," said Richard Banta of Abel, General Contractor of the job. "We don’t miss dates, so they don’t miss dates, that’s our reputation.”

The union between GBBN and the Contractor has been seamless. "The construction process at The YUM! Center has been a true collaborative experience with the General Contractor," said Project Manager, David Proffitt, AIA. "The process has been smooth, and as a result of great collaboration and willingness to see the very best in what we do come to fruition, the entire design and construction team has been acting as a cohesive group." He added, "This is exactly what the owner wanted to see and has received. The end result will indeed be a show piece for the University of Louisville."

Stay tuned for the unveiling of what will prove to be a first class facility for the burgeoning U of L athletics programs.