Q2 Stadium

Shaped by its many rivers and hills, central Texas is characterized by a semi-arid climate with long, hot summers. This was a major factor taken into consideration for the health and safety of the players and fans, and especially important for the grass on the field.

Embracing the ethos of Austin meant focusing on sustainability, a reduced ecological impact, and a compelling indoor/outdoor fan experience. The structure and enclosure must also be optimized to significantly reduce embodied carbon.

With the inaugural season set to kick off in the months ahead, the stadium required an aggressive design and construction schedule. The grass had to take root and grow in, which meant the roof had to be in place early as well. Construction had to begin while the design was still underway.

A team of structural, enclosure, and construction engineers was assembled to deliver a fabrication level detailed model incrementally throughout the project lifecycle. This enabled close coordination with the design team to ensure design intent was maintained for each element.

Utilizing our ConnecTID^® method, our integrated model kept decision-makers informed about the impact of design decisions on aesthetics and budget. This model also measures the impact of materials on embodied carbon, aiding the sustainability strategy.

With the use of a LOD400 digital model, we were able to continually assess constructability, easing the coordination of slab edge details, connection points, steel finishes, and more. Clashes and other issues that are normally found in the field were solved in advance.

Q2 is the first MLS stadium to conduct a whole building life cycle assessment. It has achieved LEED Gold certification and has won multiple industry awards. Our engineering design environmentally optimized the structure and enclosure to significantly reduce embodied carbon.

Our advanced modeling process enabled a quick turnaround on the mill order and fabrication, and pricing for the stadium’s 4,500 tons of structural steel was $1M under the guaranteed maximum price (GMP). Additionally, only 52 RFIs were issued, streamlining a time-consuming process where typically hundreds or even thousands would be needed.

A 200,000 SF canopy, the second largest in the MLS, maximizes shade and breezes for fans and players. From the vast, outdoor green spaces to the sweeping, cable-supported roof, the enthusiasm radiating from Q2 Stadium have become the heartbeat of Austin’s community.

Built in less than 20 months, this aggressive design and construction schedule required close coordination to maintain the architect’s design vision of a light, floating aesthetic, realized by creating an innovative structure of long-span trusses and custom cabling.