The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta stands as a groundbreaking multi-purpose venue, home to the Atlanta Falcons NFL team and Atlanta United MLS team. Spanning nearly two million square feet, this iconic stadium boasts an impressive 80,000-seat capacity, offering an unparalleled experience for sports fans and setting new benchmarks in long-span roof structures.
A marvel of engineering, the Mercedes-benz Stadium Atlanta features a unique oval retractable oculus roof, the first of its kind globally. Composed of eight petal-like segments, this innovative roof system creates the captivating illusion of a camera shutter opening and closing, adding a dynamic element to the stadium’s atmosphere.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta proudly holds the distinction of being the first LEED Platinum certified professional sports venue in North America, showcasing its commitment to sustainability and environmentally conscious design.
With a seating capacity of 80,000, Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta is designed to host major sporting and entertainment events, ensuring a spectacular experience for a massive audience.
The Challenge of Creating an Iconic High-Performance Stadium
The design team faced the ambitious challenge of constructing a world-class, iconic, and high-performance stadium. A key aspect was to revolutionize the conventional bi-panel retractable roof design while seamlessly integrating a large scoreboard without obstructing sky views for spectators.
Buro Happold collaborated closely with HOK Architects to develop a retractable roof concept that was not only unique but also optimized views towards the expansive 360-degree “halo” scoreboard for every fan.
Roger Nickells, Partner
The Halo Board at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, a 360° high-definition LED video display, ensures a rich, immersive, and theatrical experience for fans, regardless of whether the roof is open or closed. Image: Buro Happold
Innovative Solution: The Petal Roof and ETFE Facade
Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta’s retractable roof is engineered to open or close in under 10 minutes. This is achieved through the movement of eight cantilevered “petals,” creating a mesmerizing pinwheel effect during operation. Furthermore, eight wing-like facade panels serve as an architectural homage to the Atlanta Falcons, defining the stadium’s distinctive and sculptural form.
A pivotal element in realizing this design was the use of ETFE cushions. This transparent, inflated lightweight material minimizes the load on the long-span cantilevered moving petals. When the petals retract, the oval-shaped roof opening extends across the field, beyond each end zone. Lightweight and translucent, these ETFE cushions offer expansive city views and allow natural daylight to illuminate the field.
The facade’s complex geometry, framed with elegant lightweight steel, contributes to the stadium’s iconic exterior. Notably, the eastern facade incorporates a pioneering single-skin ETFE application, creating a “window to the city” with panoramic views of downtown Atlanta. These single-skin ETFE facade panels are groundbreaking in US stadium design, providing effective insulation to regulate heat gain inside the venue.
Sustainability was a core principle in the stadium’s development. Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta achieved LEED Platinum certification, the first for a North American sports stadium. The design team assessed the stadium’s carbon footprint using LEEDv4 methodology for Life Cycle Assessment to guide material selection. Additional sustainability initiatives include an efficient water capture and reuse system and over 4,000 PV panels. These solar panels generate enough energy annually to power ten Atlanta Falcons home games, significantly reducing the stadium’s environmental impact.
The Halo Board, with its 360° high-definition LED display, enhances the fan experience, providing immersive visuals whether the roof is open to the Atlanta sky or closed for climate control.
The retractable roof at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, featuring eight cantilevered “petals,” opens in under 10 minutes, creating a dynamic pinwheel appearance. Image: AMB Sports & Entertainment
Delivering Value Through Innovation and Fan Experience
The collaborative efforts of the project team have resulted in a holistic design that prioritizes both an exceptional fan experience and a visually stunning venue for top-tier sports and entertainment events. Mercedes-Benz Stadium Atlanta, with its innovative long-span steel roof and the nation’s first single-skin ETFE facade, serves as a pioneering example of how elegant design can create an iconic, fan-friendly, and high-performance building within the sports and entertainment sector.
