Site work for a stadium in Oxford, Ohio. Completed plans call for site work for a stadium.

https://www.miamistudent.net/article/2025/03/miami-arena-cook-field-sustainability-carbon-neutral?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured Miami University’s Board of Trustees approved Cook Field as the site for a potential new arena to replace Millett Hall, which could bring vast change to Miami’s campus – both in appearance and functionality. This decision also raises questions about how Miami can execute these changes while staying committed to sustainability, specifically to its 2040 carbon neutrality goal. Miami staff plan to fit the project into the 2040 commitment and incorporate sustainability into arena designs, but specific strategies are subject to change as the project goes through further planning. Powering the arena Cody Powell, associate vice president of facilities planning and operations, said the new arena would comply with Miami’s transition off carbon-intensive steam power. He said new renovations and construction on campus expect a 20% reduction in energy consumption at minimum, and that they are looking to put the arena onto one of Miami’s geothermal systems. “We will be looking to have a pretty substantial energy reduction,” Powell said. This would replace an earlier plan to change Millett’s infrastructure and move it to geothermal energy from the well field being constructed nearby. Miami’s buildings are also designed to meet a minimum of LEED silver, which sets guidelines for sustainable construction and operation. Powell said the new arena will most likely exceed these guidelines. David Creamer, senior vice president for finance and business services and treasurer, said the new arena project could explore other forms of renewable energy. “There’s obviously a very large roof structure that will overlay this building, we could, during the process, evaluate whether solar is an option to take advantage of that,” Creamer said. However, Creamer also said that at this point in time it is too early to know where exactly the new arena will pull power from and that more planning will bring more certainty. Gray areas of carbon neutrality Miami breaks down its emissions tracking into three scopes: emissions produced on campus, purchased electricity and commuting and university air travel. As it stands now, Powell said construction and demolition emissions would not be evaluated in the new arena project. “One of the things carbon neutrality looks at – you define bounds around what you’re considering trackable versus what you don’t,” Powell said. “We have often not considered construction waste in those calculations.” Enjoy what you're reading? Signup for our newsletter Email Address However, he echoed Creamer in that he is not certain what the future holds for this scope of emissions. Moreover, the development of a hotel remains a possibility for the new Cook Field site. Creamer said Miami is looking at the possibility of a private developer. Similar to the third party emissions of construction and demolition, the private hotel emissions may not be considered in Miami’s net zero calculations. “We would be leasing ground to the developer,” Powell said. “That wouldn’t be considered part of the university’s public production. Again, it’s one of those things that can change over time, depending on what the expectations are, but that’s typically how that’s handled.” However, Powell said that if this plan is executed, he believes the developer will be mindful of the university’s goals and have an interest in creating a sustainable facility. Creamer said these emissions will remain a part of the conversation. A waiting game Plans for the arena, including its sustainability considerations, are an ongoing conversation. Powell said several groups with different objectives work on monitoring the progress of the 2040 goal and will be engaged as these conversations arise. “It is important to remember that we don’t have final approval on the project,” Creamer said. “I think that gets confused. The board is continuing to have us do more work to get them more information.” Creamer said there is still more information to be gathered, and a final approval from the Board of Trustees is expected towards the end of 2025 or early 2026. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://www.journal-news.com/news/proposed-site-for-new-miami-u-sports-arena-targeted/XKFK72V6PZBY5MPUOBCQD2QECM/ Miami University officials have chosen a proposed campus site for a new sports arena as part of their recommended plan to replace the school’s aging Millett Hall sports venue. University officials are now backing an idea to build a proposed arena at the school’s Cook Field intramural outdoor sports area along the eastern border of the school’s main campus, next to State Route 73. According to an announcement by school officials this week, Miami University President Gregory Crawford touted the proposed arena site as stemming from input to a school committee that gathered survey responses from about 1,500 students, staffers, Oxford residents and others. The new arena proposal and possible site recommendation, both of which would require approval of Miami’s Board of Trustees, would see the current student intramural sports playing fields transplanted to the outdoor areas – and adjacent spaces - created by the possible demolition of the 57-year-old Millett Hall along the northern portion of the campus. Moreover, officials said the recommended Cook Field site arena development, which is near the Farmer School of Business, Bachelor Hall, and Shideler Hall, could also include other adjacent and nearby facilities. “Should the arena project move forward, Pulley Tower would remain and a master plan would be developed for the entire Cook Field site to explore how possible future projects, such as a conference center, retail spaces, and/or a parking garage, could be integrated into the overall site,” stated officials in their announcement. “The design will also incorporate Pulley Tower into the entrance of the building, emphasizing Miami’s traditional Georgian architecture, and providing a welcoming and beautiful entrance to campus.” School officials have previously cited the 10,000-seat Millett Hall – a key facility for Miami’s Division 1 NCAA sports programs - as needing $80 million to maintain and upgrade the sports venue and athletic department complex that was opened in 1968. Explore Miami University exploring replacing iconic sports arena Crawford, who will next take the proposals to school trustees at an undetermined date, said he was grateful for the input from stakeholders in and around Miami’s main Oxford campus. “A sincere thank you to the committee members who dedicated time to carefully consider the concept of a new arena and its impact on students and the community,” said Crawford. “I am thrilled that so many Miamians engaged in the process by offering support, sharing suggestions, and contributing valuable feedback about the potential sites.” School officials stated “Miami is prioritizing these and other projects that directly benefit students and the community by supporting a vibrant and reinvigorated campus experience, as well as those that strengthen the local economy. A new, conveniently located multi-purpose event center and arena embodies these goals and spirit. Officials added that choosing this site also gives the university the opportunity to invest about $13 million in upgrading student intramural fields elsewhere on campus. The current sports area at Cook Field are used for a variety of intramural sports such as soccer, softball, flag football and ultimate frisbee, as well as for student events and community programs. University officials said they plan to work closely with members of the Associated Student Government to design and create the new recreational fields so that they best meet the needs of our students and their interests. Officials also said the committee, which was created in the fall, cited “numerous advantages” to the Cook Field site including: “A larger footprint with abundant space gives the ability to add additional facilities, including connection to potential future hotel and/or restaurants and the site is close to the North Parking Garage and has the room to add additional parking.” Explore Miami University forms committee for new sports arena, hotel Also cited was the proximity to the intersection of State Route 73 and U.S. 27 allowing for improved control of campus traffic flow as well as direct entrance and exit from SR 73, which would limit traffic congestion on campus and also said the proposed site would not require removal of existing campus buildings. The Cook Field site, they said, “provides better facilitation for simultaneous dual activities held in the new arena and other campus events like commencements, concerts, conferences, creative arts performances, career fairs and more.” And the location is close to several campus residence halls, which should promote greater student access and participation at campus events held at the location. The school’s Southwest Quad area was also considered but eventually dismissed as less desirable and a better future option for “opportunities for the expansion of academic programming.” Crawford said the Cook Field site for proposed new arena and other new facilities “is an exciting opportunity to enhance Miami and the Oxford community for years to come, and we look forward to continuing to explore the idea of a new arena.” Miami graduate student Anastasiia Evstifeeva was walking past Cook Field Wednesday and agreed with Crawford’s stance. “That’s cool and I’m excited to see some new renovations here,” said Evstifeeva. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This request for proposals is for the selection of a vendor/provider to the University for services in accordance with the detailed specifications and requirements which follow. Question Deadline 01/06/2025 at 2:00 PM ET Question via Online. All technical questions shall be directed to Brad Clark at 513-529-8012 or by e-mail at Clarkbw@MiamiOH.edu. 3. A list of exceptions, if any, describing any exceptions or deviations from the standards specified must accompany each item or service requested. Unless an exception to the specifications is clearly stated within your bid submission, the proposal will be expected to meet or exceed each specification, term, and condition. Any deviations from the minimum specifications will be evaluated by the end users. All proposals must be signed by an authorized agent of the seller. Prices, discounts or other financial considerations that address the requirements of this proposal described in the technical detailed section shall be fully enumerated in the response. 4. Proposals may be withdrawn up until the time of opening. Proposals may not be withdrawn after opening. It is the responsibility of the respondent to ensure that all required documentation, as enumerated above, arrives on time and at the designated location. Any submissions received after the stated date and time, or those that do not contain the required information as enumerated above, or the correct number of copies, will be considered incomplete and unresponsive, and will be disqualified. In addition, specific questions regarding the RFP should be submitted through the portal. Responses to the vendors questions will be posted through the portal as well. 5. Award will be based on price and terms, delivery/availability, quality and durability, ease of use and suitability of equipment for the University's intended use, cost of installation, and judged reliability. References may be questioned in depth in an effort to determine satisfaction with operational performance and service. The proposal which offers the best combination of price, equipment options, delivery time, quality, serviceability, and reliability, in the opinion of Miami University, will be selected.