The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta stands as a premier, multi-purpose venue, home to both the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League and Atlanta United of Major League Soccer. Encompassing nearly two million square feet, this iconic stadium boasts an impressive seating capacity of approximately 80,000, offering an unparalleled experience for sports enthusiasts and event-goers alike. More than just a sports arena, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium has redefined stadium design, particularly with its groundbreaking long-span roof structure.
An Engineering Challenge: Iconic Design and Retractable Roof Innovation
The ambitious project aimed to create a world-class, iconic, and high-performance stadium. A key challenge was to develop a novel approach to the retractable roof, moving beyond conventional bi-panel designs. Furthermore, the design needed to seamlessly integrate a massive scoreboard without obstructing views of the sky, a crucial aspect for fan experience. Buro Happold collaborated closely with HOK Architects to overcome these hurdles, focusing on a retractable roof concept that was both unique and spectator-centric.
“Buro Happold worked closely with architect HOK to develop a retractable roof concept that was not only unique but also provided views to a large 360 degree ‘halo’ scoreboard to every spectator.”
Roger Nickells, Partner
Innovative Solutions: Petal Roof and ETFE Facade
The centerpiece of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s innovation is its unique retractable roof. Unlike traditional designs, this roof operates via eight cantilevered “petals” that move to open or close in under 10 minutes. This synchronized movement creates a captivating pinwheel effect, adding a dynamic visual element to the stadium experience. The oval retractable oculus roof, the first of its kind globally, is composed of these eight petals, mimicking the aperture of a camera shutter as it opens and closes. Complementing the roof, eight wing-like facade panels serve as an architectural homage to the Atlanta Falcons, shaping the stadium’s distinctive and sculptural form.
A crucial element in achieving this design was the use of ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) cushions. This transparent, inflated, lightweight material minimizes the load on the long-span cantilevered moving petals. When the petals retract, the resulting oval-shaped opening extends beyond the field’s length, encompassing the end zones. The ETFE cushions are not only lightweight and translucent, allowing daylight to flood the stadium and illuminate events, but also provide views of the Atlanta skyline.
The stadium’s facades are geometrically complex, framed with lightweight steel, contributing to its iconic exterior. Notably, the eastern facade features a pioneering application of single-skin ETFE, creating a “window to the city” with expansive views of downtown Atlanta. These single-skin ETFE facade panels are a first in the United States, providing effective insulation and mitigating unwanted heat gain within the venue, showcasing innovative material use for both aesthetic and functional purposes.
Sustainability Leadership: LEED Platinum Certification
Sustainability was a guiding principle in the design of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It achieved the distinction of being the first LEED Platinum certified professional sports venue in North America, underscoring its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Buro Happold’s analytics team rigorously evaluated the stadium’s carbon footprint, employing the LEEDv4 methodology for Life Cycle Assessment to inform material selection throughout the project. Key sustainable initiatives include a highly efficient water capture and reuse system, significantly reducing water consumption. Furthermore, over 4,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels are integrated into the stadium’s design, generating enough solar energy annually to power the equivalent of 10 Atlanta Falcons home games, demonstrating a significant commitment to renewable energy.
Enhanced Fan Experience: The Halo Board
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium is also renowned for its exceptional fan experience, largely thanks to the Halo Board. This 360-degree, high-definition LED video display encircles the seating bowl, ensuring every fan enjoys a rich, immersive, and theatrical experience, regardless of whether the roof is open or closed. The Halo Board elevates the atmosphere and provides unparalleled engagement for spectators.
Value and Impact: Setting a New Standard
The collaborative efforts of the project team have culminated in a holistic design that prioritizes both an unforgettable fan experience and a visually stunning venue for premier sports and entertainment events. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with its innovative long-span steel roof and the nation’s first single-skin ETFE facade, serves as a groundbreaking example of how elegant design can create an iconic, fan-friendly, and high-performance building within the sports and entertainment sector. It stands as a testament to innovative engineering and sustainable design in modern stadium architecture.
