The CEO of Pogue Construction, which built Allen ISD’s $60 million Eagle Football Stadium, is responding to a preliminary report critical of the stadium’s design and concrete concourse.
The 18,000-seat stadium was shut down indefinitely — just 18 months after opening. Cracks in the concrete of Eagle Stadium were first reported in late February.
Nelson Architectural Engineers, a consulting firm brought in by the Allen Independent School District, found that the cracks are the result of "drying shrinkage of the concrete."
Ben Pogue, CEO of Pogue Construction, addressed concerns raised in the report publicly on Thursday in a series of interviews.
“It is a preliminary report, we’ve seen it, we’ve seen it several weeks ago,” said Pogue.
Pogue’s company has a 31-year history with Allen ISD building nearly every school and building within the district.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
The relationship is drawing new scrutiny since the closing of the stadium to safety concerns a few weeks ago.
An engineering analysis of problems dealing with significant cracks in the concourse level of the stadium has cited concerns with the structural design of the stadium and how concrete was used and applied.
"This is a fairly standard situation,” said Pogue. “Not necessarily of this magnitude but standard in having to address situations.”
Pogue said there are at least 30 different companies involved in the construction and design of the stadium. He added that until further analysis is complete, no one knows where to direct the blame for the problems.
Each entity is fully insured and that’s where money to fix the problems will come from, not the pockets of Allen’s taxpayers.
"As far as what the fix may be, it could be something pretty minor,” said Pogue or in a worst-case scenario, “something more major […] would be replacing some concrete sections at the concourse area.”
Pogue said the stadium overall structure and sub level, which contain practice facilities and weight rooms for all athletics, are intact. He said suggestions of a complete teardown of Eagle Stadium are extreme.
Due to the stadium shut down and mounting structural concerns, fall football home season games may be played at another location.
The final engineering evaluation for the stadium and it’s proposals for a fix won’t be complete until at least June 2014. There would not be enough time to complete a reconstruction of the concourse or an extensive rehab effort before the start of high school football season in late August.
Pogue said everyone should stay patient. The company is committed to delivering on the promise of a one-of-a-kind high school stadium that garnered the local and national spotlight when it opened in 2012, Pogue said.
The problems just need to be specifically identified so it’s done right this time. Pogue said if that means more inspections and evaluations, so be it.