See the final beam placed at Nippert Stadium renovation project: PHOTOS

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Tom Uhlman | Courier

The final beam was lifted to the top of Nippert Stadium during a ceremony on Friday.

Erin Caproni

Digital Producer- Cincinnati Business Courier

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As the University of Cincinnati Bearcats prepare to play for a share in their conference title tomorrow, a celebration of a different kind took place at their home field this morning.

The final beam was put in place at Nippert Stadium as an $86 million renovation project there speeds toward completion.

To see what the stadium looks like now, click on the image at right. Renderings of the what the final product will look like are available here.

The renovation of the 90-year-old stadium is expected to be complete in time for the 2015-16 football season, providing more space and new amenities for fans and members of the media.

Seating will be increased from 35,097 to 40,000, and suites, scholarship club seats, loge boxes/patio suites and a new press box structure will be added to the west side of the stadium. The addition will be used on game days as well as for special events, speaking engagements, luncheons, weddings and bar mitzvahs. Pregame festivities for basketball games may also be held there.

The Bearcats have been playing at the Cincinnati Bengals' home, Paul Brown Stadium, in downtown Cincinnati this season while the construction continues.

Caproni heads up web operations for the Business Courier.