Beckett & Raeder, Inc. completed the site design for the Convocation Center at Eastern Michigan University. The scope of work for the project included:

 

• Placement of the building

• Circulation layout for both pedestrians and vehicular movement

• Parking for 900 vehicles

• Loading docks to accommodate semi trucks and their trailers

• Grading plan

• Landscape plan

• Utility plan

• Site Preparation plan

 

The Convocation Center is home to the men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams, EMU commencement ceremonies, the athletic administration offices, and is a venue for numerous concerts, athletic events, and community and charity events. The site selected for the Convocation Center is immediately south of the Rynearson Football/Track Stadium, which enable the construction of a tunnel that links the locker rooms of the Convocation Center to the football field.

 

A major consideration for this project was the layout and design of the circulation system. Due to the high attendance at Convocation Center events, special attention was given to provide clear vehicular circulation for visitors, including an entry plaza, a bus drop-off area, a V.I.P. parking area, and a separate loading dock area. Significant efforts were made to minimize conflict points for pedestrians.

 

Another critical issue was the management of storm water on site. In order to better manage volumes, the utility design for storm sewer discharge was directed to four different drainage basins. A pump station was designed to drain the depressed loading dock area.