Northern Michigan University Berry Events Center, Marquette, MI

The Berry Events Center, located on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan, that houses multiple athletic functions. The facility is composed of precast architectural wall panels, plank, columns, risers and a mezzanine floor. The new center seats over 35,000 guests and offers a U.S. Olympic sized skating rink. This rink is the third in America that will be utilized for U.S. Olympic speed skating. Not only does this facility host Olympic speed skating, but also hosts basketball and hockey games as well as theatrical performances.

Precast was used because it offered a durable, fire-proof advantage. There was great freedom of design when selecting precast concrete. The project was completed on schedule and this enabled the facility to be utilized faster than traditional methods. Precast also offered designers an excellent way to achieve open, clear spans for the flooring and ceilings.