PCL uses DroneDeploy to track Augusta arena build

PCL Construction is using DroneDeploy to create a continuous visual record of the $250 million New Augusta Arena in downtown Augusta, Georgia. The project is set to open in 2027, replace the James Brown Arena and deliver an estimated $1.6 billion regional impact.

Why it matters: - The New Augusta Arena is a major public project with taxpayer backing, so continuous documentation helps track progress, spot issues early and reduce rework. - The arena is expected to drive local economic activity, support 600 permanent jobs and become a new sports and entertainment anchor for Augusta. - The project gives the owner, design team and field crews the same visual record of construction in real time.

What happened: - DroneDeploy announced that PCL Construction is using its platform to maintain a single, continuous record of construction at the New Augusta Arena. - The arena is a $250 million, 10,500-seat civic venue rising in downtown Augusta, Georgia. - The project is replacing the James Brown Arena. - The arena is scheduled to open in 2027. - PCL began capturing the site before ground was broken. - The record covers demolition, excavation, foundations, topping out and the steel structure as it rises.

The details: - The arena is designed by Perkins & Will and owned by the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority. - The 10-story building stretches the length of three football fields. - The arena will connect to the existing Bell Auditorium through a new Great Hall. - The venue is expected to host about 100 events a year and serve as home ice for Augusta Pro Hockey. - Richmond County voters approved the half-cent special-purpose local-option sales tax that funds the project in 2023. - Construction is tracking on schedule and on budget. - Steel is going vertical, and topping out is projected for summer 2026. - PCL is capturing repeatable video flights every three to four weeks. - Field crews are using 360-degree cameras to document the interior as the structure grows. - Drones inspect every elevated deck before the pour, creating a pre-pour dataset. - The team plans to extend interior capture later this summer using DroneDeploy Ground for ceiling and floor documentation as mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-in begins.

Between the lines: - The project shows how reality capture is moving from a one-off progress check to a standard workflow on large construction jobs. - PCL’s setup gives the owner and contractors a shared record from air, ground, interior and exterior views, which can make disputes easier to resolve and decisions faster to verify. - DroneDeploy is using Augusta to showcase an enterprise deployment that now spans more than 1,000 active PCL projects. - PCL’s tech-forward field leadership appears to be a key driver of adoption on the job site, based on the superintendent comment included in the announcement.

What's next: - Mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-in is expected to begin later this summer. - PCL plans to continue regular capture as the arena moves toward topping out in summer 2026. - The arena is expected to open in 2027 with 10,500 seats and about 100 events per year. - PCL and DroneDeploy are likely to keep expanding the same capture workflow across more project phases and active jobs.

The bottom line: - Augusta’s new arena is being built with a digital paper trail designed to keep a $250 million public project visible, on track and easier to manage from start to finish.