RIVERSIDE, CA California Baptist University (CBU) recently selected Sundt Construction, Inc. as the general contractor for a new events center and arena located on the southeast quadrant of the school's main campus in Riverside, California.

The $73 million project will create the 66-year-old university's largest gathering space and events center to accommodate a surge in growth over the past few years. Designed by SVA Architects and HOK arena specialists, the 153,000-square-foot structure will seat 5,050 people with room to expand to just over 6,500. The two-story, multi-use facility will be a hub for CBU athletic events, commencement exercises and orientation activities, along with the school's Chapel program, which serves more than 5,000 students a week. The structure will also feature locker rooms for home and visiting teams, as well as a new Athletics suite and offices.

"Not only will this facility create additional event space for the university's fast-growing student body, but it will support all facets of their athletic, academic and spiritual life programs," said Sundt Vice President Robert Stokes. "We are working closely with HOK and SVA Architects to ensure this facility is the perfect centerpiece to an already beautiful campus."

Preparation of the construction site already is underway. The facility is slated for completion in April 2017, in time for CBU commencement exercises in May.

As a leader in education construction throughout California, Sundt has worked on many notable projects, including the San Diego State University Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union in San Diego, California; Coast Community College Interdisciplinary Complex in Costa Mesa, California; and California State University, Channel Islands Sierra Hall in Camarillo, California.