What’s New at Dickies Arena? Orientation with the FWFD

Fort Worth’s finest acquaints itself with arena plans and the construction site

Five weeks after celebrating the topping out at Dickies Arena, construction continues to progress at the 560,000 square foot state-of-the-art venue.

Since the topping out, Bill Shaw, director of operations at The Arena, The Beck Group, General Contractor of the project, and its massive army of talented subcontractors have achieved some smaller but noteworthy milestones, one of which stands out as special.

Shaw, along with Beck’s team of superintendents, recently met with 18 members of the Fort Worth Fire Department to help the first responders learn the arena, which helps determine and inform emergency preparedness plans.

“Our objective is to familiarize the FWFD with construction and what the arena will be once complete, including its many intricacies,” says Jim Thillen, regional general superintendent at Beck.

This is one of several steps to ensure first responders will proactively respond in the event of an emergency situation.

The process includes understanding an array of complex information. In addition to learning the overall arena floor plan, emergency personnel must also know where stairwells and elevators are situated, be able to quickly navigate different levels of the arena, whose overall square footage is equivalent to three Wal-Mart Supercenters.

They must also know where to quickly and safely park emergency vehicles, find mechanical systems, and be prepared to transport a stretcher from the first aid room to an ambulance.

“We appreciate and respect the work that FWFD does and will be a resource to them throughout the construction process,” says Shaw, whose own team will go through emergency training as part of their responsibility to seamlessly maintain arena operations.

After reviewing and discussing arena blueprints, the FWFD toured the active construction site. Despite the 100+ degree heat, the day was a success and all parties are on track for emergency preparedness at the arena.