It’s no news that college hoops are big in the life of students, fans and the local residents who often support their teams at a feverish pitch. Thus, the University of Mississippi, founded in 1848 and known for its athletic programs, recently commissioned a $96.5 million basketball arena, The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The multi-purpose facility is home to the men’s and women’s basketball programs and also hosts graduation ceremonies, concerts and other university-wide events.

Work on the facility began with a groundbreaking ceremony in July 2014, and opened to great fanfare during a weekend long celebration, Jan. 7-10, 2016. The facility was designed by AECOM Technology, an architecture and engineering firm based in Kansas City, Mo. BL Harbert International located in Birmingham, Ala. was the general contractor with experience building several other SEC arenas.

The facility consists of a three-story structural steel frame supporting steel trusses. From the exterior, it wields an elegant footprint in spite of its scale, one that is enhanced by a curved and colonnaded entrance façade that echoes The Pavilion’s signature curved roof. The roof is clad in metal paneling manufactured by ACI Building Systems, LLC and coated with Valspar’s Fluropon in Terra Cotta, a rich earth-tone hue. 

Chosen from an extensive list of colors, Valspar’s Fluropon 70 percent PVDF coating in Terra Cotta is a premium, high performance product. With Fluropon’s exceptional dirt and stain resistant properties, and its durability in various weather conditions, the combination of ACI panels and Valspar’s coatings ensure The Pavilion’s striking roof will endure lustrously for years to come.

“Valspar has consistently provided ACI with a superior product,” said Tim Davis, ACI’s vice president of sales. “We are confident in Valspar’s products to meet or exceed all our customers' requirements.”

ACI's UltraLok Roof System is designed and fabricated with both appearance and weather resistance top-of-mind. The UltraLok standing seam panel, is 18" x 2" with factory installed sealant and was specified from over ten different panel profiles. The Ultra-Lok panel is mechanically seam and will offer excellent weather resistance and be virtually maintenance free.

“We are excited to work on such a high profile project in conjunction with ACI,” said Tommy Rogers, of Rogers Steel Company. “The 22 gauge galvalume substrate on this job, paired with the Valspar Fluropon coating, is not only aesthetically pleasing, but offers a premium roofing system fitting of this project.”

At 225,000 square-feet, the state-of-the-art arena seats 9,500 fans. In addition to the basketball court, it features locker room suites for players, athletic coaches and officials. The complex also includes first class amenities such as a private student concourse, courtside and baseline seating for students, three premium club areas – the Courtside Club, the All-American Club and the Pavilion Club - more than 1,700 premium seats, and an intimate seating bowl.