Proposing A New Stadium

By Patrick Londrigan

Before designing a new stadium for the St. Louis Rams I need to gain ideas and further ones knowledge of stadium design. One needs  to research and accomplish successful case studies.  For the next few blog post’s I will be researching other professional football venues, to find out what works and doesn’t work for them.

Levi’s Stadium is the newest stadium to the NFL world. Its home to the San Francisco 49ers and opened its doors to the public at the start of this season, August 2014.  Levis’ Stadium was designed by HNTB and is predominantly open and airy, taking advantage of its location and the Silicon Valley climate.  The stadium was also designed to be environmentally friendly, generating a lot of great ideas to be taken away from this project.

The stadium will be the first United States professional football stadium to receive LEED Gold certification.  Inside, between the 49ers Museum and the Team Store, visitors and guest are able to view a live dashboard display that features the current energy measurements, water and air monitors, and other dynamic green features as the building operates daily.

To achieve LEED Gold certification you are required to hit 39 points.  As of February 2014, Levi’s Stadium had earned 44 points granting them their Gold certification.  To lower greenhouse gases, the stadium is located on a sustainable site with accessible public transportation and bike paths.  Also is will self-consume PV-electricity generated from its three NRG Energy solar paneled pedestrian bridges and its one solar paneled roof deck, the NRG Solar Terrace.  In the Citrix Owners Suites you will find that 100% of the wood used is reclaimed wood from a local airplane hangar.  The stadium is using recycled and reclaimed building products where it is possible, also adding a 27,000 square foot “Green Roof” on top of its suite tower.  Then the stadium will use reclaimed water for both potable and non-potable uses such as the playing field irrigation water.  Finally the stadium’s concessionaire will be working with local suppliers to fulfill its farm-to-table menus, and composting and recycling to the greatest extent possible.  Levi’s Stadium went the extra mile for their visitors and guest, setting the bar for great venues to come.