CCI Case Study: New Busch Stadium

Baseball's Cardinals get a brand new Busch

General Contractor: Hunt Construction

Services Utilized: Painting, Wallcovering, Duroplex, Acid Based Floor Stains, Intumescent Fire Proofing, Epoxy Floor Coatings, Epoxy/Urethane Steel Coatings

When the original Busch Stadium was retired last year after 39 years of service, fans had high hopes for the St. Louis Cardinals' new home. The $400 million project seems to have met expectations. "New Busch Stadium takes its place solidly in the front ranks of the parks that give you new-age amenities with an old-time feel," wrote Mike Bauman of MLB.com after the stadium was unveiled for opening day on April 10."The new ballpark is a beauty. But this is baseball in St. Louis, and you expected nothing less." For Custom Coatings, Inc. of St.Charles, Mo., it was truly a labor of love, says Jay Dingess, estimator and project manager. "There is no more visible project," he says. "For the next 40 to 50 years, three to four million people a year will visit and take pride in the park." What doesn't show amid all the old-fashioned brick exterior and glitzy high-tech interior is all the hard work and deadline pressure that went into completing the stadium in time for the season opener. "Stadium work is not for the faint-of-heart," Dingess says. "The demand for production, materials, sundries and equipment is enormous." A good paint supplier, therefore, is crucial. "A total of 29 miles of tape was used for masking purposes, along with more than 20,000 gallons of paint and enough sundries to stock a satellite store," Dingess says. "From day one, Sherwin-Williams bought into the need for 'right now' service for this fast-tracked stadium. In the 150-plus orders and deliveries to a city block-sized site, they delivered on time, every time." Dingess also credits the general contractor for the project's success. "Hunt Construction knows stadiums and can project each phase of the project to ensure completion for opening day," he says. "Busch Stadium will be open for business and performing beautifully for future generations, and the project proves once again that with our three business units (residential, commercial and industrial), there is no project Custom Coatings can not complete on time and within budget."