Stadiums

University of Phoenix Stadium ... Home to the Arizona Cardinals

The University of Phoenix indoor stadium has a retractable roof, a roll-out natural-grass playing field and seating for 63,400-seat (expandable to 73,000). The stadium has been described as unlike any other stadium in North America, a marvel of design, engineering, and technology. It was opened on August 1, 2006, after three years of construction and was the venue for the 2008 Super Bowl. Mechanical components for the retractable roof and field were modelled to ensure correct interface with the structural steelwork. Due to the complex roof geometry the open web joists and joist girders were also modelled to ensure correct fit up with the structural steel.

Lucas Oil Stadium – home to the Indiana Colts

The 14,620 ton Indiana Colts Stadium is located in Indiana and consists of two major portal frames that span 750 feet, transverse trusses and a movable roof. This project contained 20,000 shop detail drawings and 500,000 bolts. BDS did not have one detailing error on this project. BDS was also asked to model concrete, pre-cast walls, ducting and mechanical components to check the interface with the structure.

Invesco Field at Mile High – home to the Denver Broncos

This 76,000 seat Stadium consists of 12,000 tons of Structural Steel which resulted in over 3,000 shop detail fabrication drawings being produced. Set out on a unique geometry, the design / build Stadium is a three tiered arena consisting of Lower, Middle and Upper Bowls of steel framing with thick bent steel plate seating risers. The Stadium is serviced by 4 pedestrian ramps located at each corner to deal with the volume of patrons entering and leaving the complex. As described by Modern Steel Construction / October 2000 edition, the grid system is best defined as a double symmetric, 48 sided polygon based on a broad-radius arcs at the sidelines and end zones with tighter arcs through the corners. The continually curving seating rows created by the grid system will provide better sight lines and field proximity for stadium patrons as well as the appearance of a smoothly curved seating bowl. The upper bowls consists of raker frames which vary in height forming a wave effect, one of the signature items of the stadium. These frames are quite unique in themselves, as they are wide flange built up sections consisting of a straight taper along the lower length and a curved taper at the upper end. The built up sections are supported by HSS 24” columns leaning towards and away from the field forming a bracing effect.