Large-scale sports venue renovations require coordinated mechanical work alongside structural, architectural and building-system upgrades, particularly when construction must accommodate phased delivery and continued venue operations. Helm Mechanical has been awarded HVAC and plumbing work as part of the University of Nebraska’s approximately $600 million renovation of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The project will modernize the historic stadium while expanding its ability to operate as a year-round venue. Construction is scheduled to begin after the 2026 football season, with the overall renovation targeted for completion in 2028.
Helm Mechanical’s awarded work includes HVAC and plumbing systems serving the stadium’s West Suites and West Lower Bowl. The company will also provide HVAC systems for the South Stadium area.
The mechanical scope will support the broader redevelopment of the 1923 stadium, which is expected to accommodate approximately 80,000 fans after construction.
The renovation is planned to include about 20,000 new chairback seats, a redesigned student section, expanded concourses and upgraded club and premium areas. Those improvements will require mechanical systems to be integrated into renovated and newly configured spaces throughout the facility.
Kiewit Building Group is working with Helm Mechanical on the project.
The Memorial Stadium redevelopment is being structured around the University of Nebraska's football schedule, with construction set to begin following the 2026 season. Phased work will continue through the targeted 2028 completion.
Working within an existing stadium presents coordination requirements that can differ from new construction. Mechanical contractors must account for existing infrastructure, access limitations, sequencing and interfaces with other trades while supporting new spaces and updated building systems.
For Helm, the project also expands its involvement in Nebraska’s large commercial and institutional construction market. The company’s Nebraska operations were ranked No. 1 among specialty contractors in the 2026 ENR Midwest Top Specialty Contractors list, according to Helm.
The Memorial Stadium project illustrates the mechanical coordination demands associated with major renovations of active sports and entertainment facilities. HVAC and plumbing upgrades must be incorporated into expanded seating, premium areas and circulation spaces while construction proceeds in defined phases.
For owners and contractors, projects of this scale highlight the importance of early trade coordination, detailed sequencing and integration of new mechanical systems with existing stadium infrastructure. The 2028 completion target also makes construction scheduling a central consideration as the University of Nebraska modernizes one of its largest campus facilities.
Source: Helm.
