After 20 years as Charleston’s premier event venue, Credit One Stadium – home to North America’s largest women’s only tennis tournament, the Credit One Charleston Open – undergoes an extensive renovation to enhance the guest experience and attract world-class athletes and performers. After using enough concrete to fill a tennis court 45-feet tall and installing more than 200 miles of wiring, the 167,093-SF facility sees an increase in capacity from 7,000 to 11,000 through open-air design and a spacious bowl-shaped arena. The facility is designed to blend seamlessly with its environment, including the 26, 35-foot-tall crepe myrtles planted by the project team. From the traditional Lowcountry flair of polished tabby flooring within all hospitality suites, to emulating the cranes at the nearby Port of Charleston in the design of the Stage House’s exterior canopy, Charleston is in every detail.

Technology Propelling Schedule & Partnership

Due to the tight 12-month schedule and vast scope of work, Choate’s in-house Virtual Design + Construction (VDC) team set the tone for the overall success through creative uses of technology. Without original as-builts available, the VDC team established value with laser scans, BIM/3D-modeling and virtual tours. Working together with design partners and ownership, Choate hosted virtual reality model reviews, utilizing Oculus VR-Goggles.

Such reviews played a vital role in decision-making related to design elements, layouts, and materials. The VDC team’s expertise was especially beneficial throughout the value engineering process, saving time and money from potential rework, and yielding confidence in the schedule.

To keep the schedule, interior design and project construction had to move forward in concert with one another, so Choate worked seamlessly with the design team to coordinate the entire process. Consistent communication and open collaboration instilled confidence, and the resulting teamwork mentality paved the way for a successful completion. The outcome is a state-of-the-art facility that provides entertainment from world-class athletes and performers while stimulating the local economy for years to come.