Washington State University has begun raising money for a $55 million facelift and expansion at Martin Stadium, the Pullman, Wash., home of the WSU Cougars football team.


WSUs athletic department is spearheading fund raising for the proposed stadium upgrades, and the university already has solicited bids from architects to design the improvements. WSU expects to choose an architect late this month, though design work wont start until sufficient funds have been raised, says Jerry Schlatter, executive director of WSUs capital planning and development department.


The project will be funded entirely by private donations, and the work wont start until enough money has been secured, Schlatter says.


As envisioned, design work would start in late 2005 and take roughly a year to complete.


Construction would occur in two phases, with work taking place between football seasons, Schlatter says.


Its a difficult schedule because the building has to remain in use, he says. A preliminary timetable calls for all of the work to be completed by August 2008, but Im expecting 2009 to be more realistic, Schlatter says.


ALSC Architects PS, of Spokane, recently completed a master plan for Martin Stadium that included the proposed renovations.


As currently planned, the first phase of the project would involve construction of a new stadium faade, entry gate, ticket booths, and restrooms on the east side, or Stadium Way side, of the football field, according to a proposal submitted to WSUs board of regents.


In the first phase, a new upper seating structure also would be constructed above the east end zone section. The new seating would result in a net gain of 1,650 seats for the stadium, which currently has a total of about 37,600 seats, the proposal says.


Schlatter says that the first phase is expected to cost more than $20 million.


The second phase of work would include upgrades to the south stands, which are behind the visitors bench on the same side of the field as the press box.


As envisioned, the stadiums press box would be demolished and replaced with a new upper level of seating, as well as viewing suites and a new press box. The new upper seating section there would have 5,000 additional seats, and the new suites facility above that section would have 20 private suites with a total of 250 seats, a presidents box, a 250-seat Cougar Athletic Foundation box, and a 16-seat athletic director box, the proposal says.


A new press box in that same complex would provide space for 150 writers and spots for 20 broadcasting operations.


The seating added in both phases would raise Martin Stadiums total capacity to about 45,000.


Schlatter says the second phase of work would cost more than $30 million to complete.


The planned improvements would be the first significant upgrades to Martin Stadium since the 1970s, when the north stands were rebuilt, he says.