Structure: Stadium roof
Project Scope: Fabrication and Installation of membrane and supporting cable trusses
Project Size: 260,000 sqft
Material: PTFE Membrane and hybrid lock coil cable trusses
Location: Syracuse, NY
Completion Date: September 2020
Owner: Syracuse University
General Contractor: Hayner Hoyt Construction
Architect:
Structural Engineer: Geiger Engineers
The new roof is a metal-fabric hybrid, with the center being made of a semi-translucent PTFE membrane supported by a complex cable net with protruding arching steel tubes. The new roof replaces the prior 220-ton air-inflated roof, removing the mechanical requirements for inflation. The membrane rests on the arches, creating a “bubbly” visual from both outside and inside the dome.
Installation of the new roof began when the old roof was removed in March 2020. The new roof was completed before the Syracuse football season-opening win over Georgia Tech on September 26, 2020.
The PTFE membrane roof will save the university thousands in operating costs over the life of the project. The old roof had to maintain a consistent air pressure to prevent it from collapsing. Now, the roof is supported by a cable net system and the steel crown truss surrounding the roof. The PTFE material is semi-translucent, which allows for daylight to bring natural light to game days. Between the reduced electricity for lights and not having to keep the building at a high air pressure, the University of Syracuse will see a return on investment for the new roof in the long run.
