Due to increased spectator demand and revenue opportunities, the University of Maryland enlarged Tyser Tower at Byrd Stadium, adding 66,000 square feet to the original 33,000-square-foot tower. This renovation project increased Byrd Stadium seating capacity by 2,112 seats. The scope of work called for 64 luxury suites featuring indoor and outdoor seating, 500 mezzanine-level seats featuring heated and covered seating, a new presidential suite with seating for 200, new work areas for television, radio, and print media, new work areas for coaches and gameday operations staff, a new team store, enhanced seating for patrons with disabilities, and installation of a new state-of-the-art video board above the west end zone. The two five-story additions connected directly to Tyser Tower. The interior color palette took major influence from the university’s standard colors of white, red, yellow, and black.
Each suite elevates the ultimate football game experience by surrounding its patrons in luxurious and stylish surroundings. All six suite sizes offer a private setting for entertaining and socializing in an environment offering custom wood kitchen cabinetry with an under-counter refrigerator, serving counter, and a partial elliptical counter, custom logo seating in a separate seating area, two flat-screen TVs for in-house replays and cable feed, and interior and exterior comfortable fixed seating.
The President’s Suite, located on the second level at the 50-yardline, has two elevator entrances from the ground level, opening to an expansive 3,500-square-foot suite with birch wood paneling highlighting a curvilinear element stretching nearly the entire 106-foot length of the room. A vaulted gypsum ceiling accented with cove lighting draws your eye to the field as the main center of interest. The 15-linear-foot catering area, served by a dedicated catering room, occupies an alcove at the center of the space. The alcove opens to a 500-square-foot exterior terrace, offering a view of the front of the building and the campus. Eight flat-screen monitors are placed evenly throughout the space, offering excellent viewing to the 63 interior fixed seats backed with a bar rail and the additional 32 custom bar stools with the “Terps” logo embroidered. Two main columns are accented with a bar-height drink rail with accent wood paneling beneath to offer yet another social location for conversations. The use of the university’s logo and mascot are a repeated design motif integrated into finish materials on the floor, millwork, and walls. The flexible design of this space will encourage usage not only as a gameday facility, but also for other university events.