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 New NFL Stadiums Sport Aluminum ExteriorsStadiums under construction/renovation for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants/Jets, and New Orleans Saints will all incorporate high-tech aluminum exteriors. Dallas Cowboys New Stadium
The Cowboys’ new stadium, scheduled to open at the start of the upcoming NFL season, will incorporate 700,000 pounds of soft alloy extruded profiles to frame the unitized curtainwall that will be the dominant architectural feature of the stadium’s exterior. Sapa Extrusions’ Delhi, La., plant will supply the extrusions to Texas Wall Systems (TWS) for the stadium’s exterior—which when completed will rise 86 feet high, sloping outward at a 14-degree angle. “Sapa’s capabilities in custom extrusions and finishing helped us meet the stringent requirements for complex assemblies being used on the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium,” said Larry Long, president of Oldcastle Glass Engineered Walls, of which TWS is a subsidiary. Both the aluminum and the glass have been customized to reflect the Cowboys’ team colors. The aluminum mullions will be Valspar Cowboy Silver, while the glass panels will be graduated in color from blue to light gray and silver. Meadowlands Stadium
Designers opted for an innovative outer skin comprising eight levels of aluminum louvers that will cover the stadium’s exterior. Architectural Wall Systems of Des Moines will supply over 160,000 feet (30 miles) of the aluminum louvers for the project. The aluminum exterior will be illuminated by a “Great Wall” located behind the louvers that will project iconic imagery and colors—blue for the Giants and green for the Jets—depending on which of the two teams is playing on the day. The dual-lighting technique was pioneered at Munich’s Allianz Arena, which is shared by two professional soccer clubs. Superdome Renovations
As one of the earliest examples of domed-stadium architecture in the U.S., the Louisiana Superdome long ago achieved iconic status. But time and, in particular, the effects of Hurricane Katrina have since dictated that the home of both the New Orleans Saints and the Sugar Bowl receive an exterior overhaul. Completed in 1975, the Superdome was originally sided with striking bronze aluminum panels. Those panels were fastened together by rivets, meaning that when one panel is removed those above it must be removed also. To prevent a patchwork appearance that could have resulted from the renovation of only some sections requiring repair following Hurricane Katrina, Trahan Architects chose to remove the whole skin and reclad it entirely. The architects again chose aluminum for the recladding—but opted for a thicker panel that will be affixed in such a way that, if one is in need of repair, it can be removed singly and replaced. The new aluminum panels are backed by a waterproof membrane that acts as a rainscreen—and the entire skin dramatically improves the building’s energy performance. Architects chose a champagne bronze color for the cladding to closely match that of the original exterior. Andozing of the panels will ensure that the iconic color stays intact for years to come. |
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Architects were faced with an
intriguing challenge in constructing the new Meadowlands Stadium. As the
future home of both the New York Giants and the Jets, the stadium needed
to be able to accommodate the color schemes of both teams, depending on
which would be calling it home on a given Sunday.