PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has selected AECOM, a global leader in sports facility design, to conduct a comprehensive analysis of all venues. AECOM will provide Master Planning services to assess existing athletic facilities in New Brunswick and Piscataway and develop scenarios for their renovation as well as establish the scope and siting of new facilities. Rutgers Athletics will work closely with Rutgers Institutional Planning and Operations on the project.
"We are excited to team with AECOM, an international leader in sports facility design," said Director of Athletics
Pat Hobbs. "The competitive landscape in collegiate athletics is ever changing. This project will provide us with a roadmap that optimizes the current use of our facilities, while keeping an eye to future changes in how venues are utilized. We are committed to providing a best-in-class experience for our coaches, student-athletes and spectators on game day."
The Big Ten Build campaign, which raised over $100 million, had a dramatic impact on several Rutgers Athletics programs by providing a first-class opportunity for the university's student-athletes. AECOM will look to continue that trajectory by significantly enhancing operational facilities and the fan experience at SHI stadium, Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) and other venues. Rutgers Athletics is committed to constructing facilities that will enable student-athletes to compete at the highest levels and help Rutgers build championship programs.
"We are incredibly excited to be selected as a partner for Rutgers," said Kim Vierheilig, Managing Principal of AECOM NJ. "With the success Rutgers is having on the hardwood and with the return of Coach Schiano, there is a sense of momentum and anticipation. We understand the important role Rutgers has in the state of New Jersey and believe that Rutgers has the potential to become the premier fan experience in the Metropolitan area."
As the leader in sports design, AECOM brings together universities, athletes, fans and sponsors to deliver iconic, energizing venues that are well crafted, technically sophisticated and designed to maximize revenue. Working collaboratively to crystallize clients' visions, express the unique spirit of teams and communities and further build brand loyalty, AECOM delivers award-winning sports venues to which fans and athletes love to return.
"Power 5 schools count on us to help them elevate their game for championship-caliber futures," said Jon Niemuth, Vice President and Director of AECOM Sports. "The Big Ten Build represents Rutgers' commitment to win on all fronts - for student-athletes, fans and the community. We're ready to help Rutgers build that winning future."
Rutgers Athletics has made improvements to existing venues in recent years as well as built new facilities to enhance the student-athlete experience. The RWJ Barnabas Health Athletic Performance Center, a state-of-the-art practice facility that houses the men's and women's basketball, gymnastics and wrestling programs opened in Sept. 2019. The Gary and Barbara Rodkin Academic Success Center, a 80,000-square foot complex will serve all Rutgers student-athletes and provide a range of resources, including academic advising, learning specialists, peer-to-peer learning lounge, one-on-one and group tutoring, workshops and seminars. It will also serve as a home for soccer, lacrosse and athletics administration.
About AECOM
AECOM is the world's premier infrastructure firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from planning, design and engineering to consulting and construction management. We partner with our clients in the public and private sectors to solve their most complex challenges and build legacies for generations to come. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, governments, energy and the environment, our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm with revenue of approximately $20.2 billion during fiscal year 2019. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
About Rutgers Athletics
The Rutgers Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (Rutgers Athletics), comprised of 24 men's and women's varsity sports serving more than 600 student-athletes, is a member of the Big Ten Conference and governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Rutgers is the Birthplace of College Football, hosting the first-ever collegiate matchup on Nov. 6, 1869, a 6-4 victory over Princeton. Rutgers Athletics is uniquely positioned in the nation's largest media market with over seven million television households, along with access to the Big Ten Network and its nearly 60 million homes across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1766, Rutgers University is the State University of New Jersey and eight oldest higher education institution in the country. As a premier academic institution, Rutgers is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities.
