The 355,000 pound final section of the press box is lifted into place at Cal Memorial Stadium. Christine Shaff/UC Berkeley Capital Projects

On Tuesday, a giant mobile crane lifted the final section of the 300-foot long press-box frame into place at the Cal Memorial Stadium — a significant step in the $321 million renovation project that is scheduled to be completed 11 months from now, in time for the first game of the fall 2012 season.

It took 40 minutes to hoist the 355,000 pound section of steel I-beams into place, according to a report in the Chronicle. David Friedman of Forell-Elsesser, the San Francisco-based structural engineers of the project, said: “Today’s event is a milestone because this press box is really the crown jewel of the project.”

While the new 80 ft, two-story box removed a slice of Bay view from the east rim of the stadium, on game days the box will accommodate sports reporters, coaches, officials, alumni and donors, providing an outstanding view of the field and a spectacular view of the bay.

Rendering shows position of press box and the partly submurged Student Athlete High Performance Center which is completed. Photo: UC Berkeley

Related:
UC Berkeley’s best work on renovating Memorial Stadium [09.09.11]
Inside Berkeley’s newest, most discreet building [08.08.11]

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Tracey Taylor is co-founder of Berkeleyside and co-founder and editorial director of Cityside, the nonprofit parent to Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside. Before launching Berkeleyside, Tracey wrote for...