Change is in the air for Pauley Pavilion, UCLA sources announced
recently.
The arena, completed in 1965, has had no major structural
changes since its construction. The university has retained local
architectural firm Turner Meis to review the building’s
current capacity for home basketball and volleyball games as well
as gymnastics competition, intramural sports use and nonathletic
activities such as commencement and special events.
Turner Meis will have approximately three months to interview
athletic personnel and members of Cultural and Recreation Affairs
as well as make an assessment of the greatest needs for building
improvements.
“That’ll be a broad brush work and the firm’s
recommendations for what they believe to be deficient,” said
Ken Weiner, associate athletic director of business operations.
“This is not a new process.”
This is the third time in the history of the building that UCLA
has looked into making major modifications to Pauley Pavilion.
Factors such as feasibility and lack of funding brought a halt to
the changes proposed in years past.
“(Vice Chancellor Peter) Blackman has taken a look at the
facility today in the context of the changes recently made within
the Athletics Department, including the hiring of basketball coach
Ben Howland,” Weiner said.
The major issues Weiner noted that would be looked at and
possibly altered include patron access and circulation, the locker
room and associated facilities, storage and appropriate spatial
issues for hosting NCAA events, and issues with seating around the
Nell and John Wooden Court on game days.
Any changes would have to be approved by UCLA Cultural and
Recreational Affairs, the department that owns the building.
If plans are approved at the end of summer or early fall, the
next step would be to find funding from outside sources to begin
the project.