News
Fenway Revamps for Centennial
April 27, 2011
| When you're 100-years-old, you can dress up too. In preparation for its big celebration next year, Fenway Park just completed a 10-year, $240M renovation managed in large measure by Walsh Brothers. |
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| Yesterday, we snapped Walsh president and CEO Richard Walsh whose family-owned firm (established in 1901) has been managing construction projects at the ballpark since ?78. He says that his crews have done millions of dollars of renovations at Fenway, but no one is allowed to touch the playing field. ?It's considered sacred.? If someone slips up, they'll get a call on their cell and they're out. Discipline aside, Walsh people have had special moments here. On opening day two weeks ago, Richard's father Jim was honored for his work at the ballpark, his five and six-year-old sons were invited to shout ?Play ball,? becoming the fifth Walsh generation linked to Fenway. What the boy probably noticed more though, the Sox beat the Yankees. |
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| Taking a moment to enjoy the new concourse they completed two weeks ago are Richard and his management team: Bill Sturgis,Ralph Pastore, John Feeney, Darryl Connolly, and Jon McNulty. Take a deep breath guys ?cause this job was on the fast-track from day one. Construction work can only be done during off-seasonand there's no way to know exactly when that'll start. John ran logistics like a military operation since they had one week noticeto hit the ground running. (That's when the construction managerwas chosen in a bid process.) This year?s $14M project was completed in five months and?includes: a new concourse, new scoreboards, and renovated executive offices. Richard says it was the final phase of the 10-year improvement program designed by D?Agostino Izzo Quirk that readied Fenway to celebrate its centennial next year. |
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| On the concourse, General John tells us they chipped out the old concrete and tore out the utilities and concession stands, all while working around the scaffolding and structural supports put in place by another contractor repairing the level above. Then team Walsh installed new underground drainage, sanitation, water,gas, and fire protection. They built new concession stands, kitchens, press entrance, a ticket booth, and poured fresh concrete. |
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| Ralph led the scoreboard platoon. The Red Sox bought three high-quality, HD video boards (pictured above the bleachers). Walsh built the infrastructure. During one of the region?s snowiest winters, they set up cranes and lifts that reached over Lansdowne Street. Ralph must have done his share of worrying, as his crew lost six work days in five weeks because theweather was too brutal to work, even for New Englanders.?? |
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| Scoreboard infrastructure installation included building thiscontrol room where we snapped Ralph and Bill and Sarah McGillicuddy. No mere boards nailed to beams, these HD tote boards are the latest in high tech. Also in this final phase of the renovation, Walsh did the interior and historic exterior of the 5,000 SF executive offices on Yawkey Way. This was also construction with a dash of diplomacy since all fa?ade work called for approval by the Boston Landmarks Commission (the 12 muntin windows are now energy efficient). In a past off-season, Walsh managed the construction of a new player?s clubhouse with a lounge, media room for post-game interviews, and a work out space. It connects to a subterranean batting tunnel where the guys can practice without having to explain any whiffs. |
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| As they practice catching a ball headed for the Green Monster, Darryl and Jon showed us some of Walsh?s past work in the park. In ?04, they installed the 186 new seats behind the famous wall. They tell us they're the most coveted tickets in all of baseball. Richard says fans have turned down his box seats in favor of one of these. In the '80s, Walsh built the luxury boxes and in ?05 renovated them. In ?06, they managed construction of the $45MEMC and Pavilion restaurant and clubs behind home plate. They seat about 800 inside and on the rooftop terrace along the first and third baselines. Despite all the luxuries, somehow people still manage to pay attention to the game. Must be some magic on the diamond. |
