Western Specialty Contractors Completes North End Zone Coating and Expansion Joint Project at Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium
Western Specialty Contractors’ Indianapolis branch has successfully completed a major concrete repair and waterproofing project at Indiana University Memorial Stadium North End Zone, addressing long-standing water intrusion issues above the university’s newly constructed workout facility. The project was performed for the Indiana University Board of Directors under the direction of consultant F.A. Wilhelm and spanned from May 19 to August 22, 2025.
Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium is the 14th largest football stadium in the Big Ten Conference, with an official capacity of 53,524. It is home to the Indiana Hoosiers, who won their first ever National College Football Championship in 2025 against the Miami Hurricanes. The Hoosiers have played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana since its opening in 1960.
Indiana University had reported years of leaks over expensive gym equipment housed beneath the North End Zone. Western was selected to install a 40,000-square-foot pedestrian traffic urethane waterproofing coating and 460 linear feet of new 3-inch expansion joints, along with minimal concrete repairs, control joint sealant replacement, and routing and sealing of cracks in the concrete. The project was negotiated directly with F.A. Wilhelm.
The schedule required all coating work to be completed before football season, giving crews
Western Specialty Contractors Completes North End Zone Coating and three months to deliver the project. Hot summer temperatures ranging from 90 to 100 degrees made daytime installation impractical, prompting Western to shift to nighttime operations where temperatures were more suitable for membrane application. The team also navigated 28 days of rain and adjusted work around Indiana University’s graduation week, which required demobilizing, cleaning, and remobilizing to keep the stadium presentable for events.
Despite the demanding conditions, Western completed the coating work two weeks ahead
of schedule. “Our crews adapted quickly to the extreme weather and changing site conditions, and that flexibility made this project a success,” said Project Manager Ryan Swanson. “The university was counting on us to deliver a watertight system before the season opener, and our team rose to the challenge.”
Another unique aspect of the project involved removing existing expansion joints to obtain
accurate measurements for new components. This created open expansion throats for several weeks while the new joints were being fabricated. To prevent water from leaking into the workout facility, Western installed peel-and-stick roofing material as temporary protection. Crews also coordinated closely with the university to ensure dust and debris did not impact the installation of new turf on the stadium field.
The project was completed on time, within budget, and with positive feedback from university representatives. Board members and stadium visitors complimented the quality of the new coating, and Western is currently developing a phased plan to complete additional
stadium renovations with F.A. Wilhelm.
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About Western Specialty Contractors
Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://westernspecialtycontractors.com.