usta grandstand stadium

flushing meadows new york

This 8,100 seat tennis stadium features a unique translucent exterior skin that allows the building to glow in any color at night while allowing users to look through the fabric toward the historic World Fair site. The stretched canopy roof structure provides maximum shading for the fans during the day and creates a unique lighting experience in the evening.

This is the most complex structure I have worked on. We worked directly with a design assist steel manufacturer to create the documents that allowed it to be constructed. At a glance, it appears to be a simple donut, but it is actually an ellipse that changes in elevation. This building could not have been erected without a variety of 3D BIM models and a unique team of people that knew how to use them.

The SPS stadia on this building is also a complex system. The SPS system needed to perfectly align to the steel superstructure, no field alterations allowed. The upper concourse, SPS stadia and canopy ring beam rises and falls to help maximize the shade from the sun. This created a unique challenge for everyone involved.