Read the full article in the Q1 2020 issue of PanStadia Arena & Arena Management.
Overview
The evolution in materials is perhaps one of the most exciting and truly innovative processes currently happening in sports. Walter P Moore’s National Sports Market Leader, Bart Miller, discusses the future of transparent foil membrane technology in stadium design.
“There is a ‘clear’ trend in the design of major sports facilities toward lightweight, transparent, and translucent materials for roofing and façade applications.
From the most state-of-the-art facilities in the National Football League to new builds in Major League Soccer and at least three roofed ballparks now being proposed in Major League Baseball, transparent and translucent foil membranes are becoming the material of choice for top designers in our industry.
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) in particular has captured the imaginations of stadium owners and designers.
ETFE roof and façade applications create that authentic, outdoor atmosphere in an indoor, conditioned space, providing a protected and temperature-controlled experience. Lightweight materials reduce structural support requirements and costs—especially for long-span roofs—and allow for lighter, often more elegant structures.”
