Here's just a small sampling of the various covered arena projects T. Morrison Construction has built over the years.
Circle t arena
Location: Hamilton, Texas
Architect: Designed by Tommy Morrison
Start Date: March 2006
Completion Date: September 2006
In June of 2005, Tommy Morrison met and began designing a new private competition arena. Over time, the concept grew from a small idea, to the current four acres under roof. The main building includes an indoor 145′ by 300′ arena, the Crossfire Cafe and Steakhouse, as well as the Crossfire Saddlery Western Store.
A salt water pool and park are beautiful amenities that complement the building. The arena itself offers a 145′x125′ warm up pen, as well as six bucking chutes and holding pens.
During construction, Mr. Morrison incorporated many cost-saving ideas into the design. Some of these were:
- Instead of conventional stonework, Mr. Morrison used dryvit on the main entry shown above, and throughout the building. Tommy used an artist to create the appearance of aged stonework, at far less cost than masonry.
- Instead of ordering a pre-manufactured grandstand design, Mr. Morrison built the seating substructure by hand from steel. He then ordered stock aluminum benches from a manufacturer, which he custom fit to the steel frame.
- Mr. Morrison designed the structure himself, without assistance from an architect or engineer. The foundation and structure were designed in accordance with similar facilities in the area, and have performed admirably since completion.
Community Facilities Project (LEDC and the City of Llano)
Location: Llano, Texas
Architect: Initial design by LCRA/ Redesign by Tommy Morrison
Start Date: December 2011
Completion Date: March 2012
In July of 2011, Tommy Morrison met with the City of Llano and the Lower Colorado River Authority, about constructing a new Community Facility. The City presented an initial design to Tommy, and asked him to critique the layout of the site and building, and offer suggestions.
Design Challenges
The initial design had three separate buildings on it, which included a 40,000 square-foot fairground facility, a 10,000 square-foot concession stand, and a large rodeo arena, scattered across the site. Some of the design problems Mr. Morrison noted include:
- A 10’ elevation change between the Fairground/Arena building and concession stand.
- Arena size was too small for major roping events, such as USTR and WSTR events.
- No warm-up pen.
- No stall barn – a critical oversite, in that a large portion of Arena revenue comes from overnight animal lodging.
Design Solution
Mr. Morrison worked with the City to develop a list of requirements for every aspects of the overall Facility. He then took the three buildings and combined them into a single complex, under one roof. Mr. Morrison used his relationships to find an already fabricated structure. The final design refined these ideas into one streamlined solution. From the rodeo competitors to the spectators in the grandstand, the new building is a model of efficiency in modern rodeo facility design.
Wildfire Arena addition
Location: Salado, Texas
Architect: Design by Tommy Morrison
After building a manufacturing plant for Bloomer trailers, the owners called Tommy Morrison when they needed to add on to their arena. Wildfire Ranch Arena is an indoor facility with 200,000 square feet under one roof. The building includes a full-service 150 ft x 300 ft rodeo arena. Mr. Morrison added new cattle pens, warm up pens, and stall barns to this arena.
Lari Dee Guy Arena
Location: Abilene, Texas
Architect: Design by Tommy Morrison
Start Date: June 2010
Completion Date: August 2010
When Champion roper and trainer Lari Dee Guy decided to build a roping facility at her family’s Abilene ranch, Tommy Morrison was called to build it. Lari Dee hosts private and group clinics here, as well as for personal training. This new indoor training facility includes an observation deck, twelve stalls, hay storage, feed and tack room, and an overnight apartment.
CTYRA Arena
Location: McGregor, Texas
Architect: Design by Tommy Morrison/CTYRA
Tommy Morrison worked with the Central Texas Youth Rodeo Association (CTYRA), by providing the concrete piers and slab, and steel erection for this building. After Mr. Morrison put up the building, CTYRA members contributed by finishing out the building with the remaining trades.