Daylighting: A Whole New Ball Game at Yankee Stadium

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Dec 09, 2009

In 1901, the team that would become the New York Yankees was one of eight charter members of baseball's original American League; needless to say, today's fans take their history and traditions very seriously. So if you're going to design the newest incarnation of the "House That Ruth Built" – Yankee Stadium – you'd better have a strong starting lineup. That's why international design firm Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event) tagged Structures Unlimited/Kalwall to span and daylight the stadium's Great Hall. The combined efforts were so successful, not only did the Yankees bring yet another World Series Championship in their new home, New York Construction honored their new stadium as overall Project of the Year.

Fans coming to the new stadium are wowed from the moment they enter the Great Hall. Eyes grow large as they're drawn upward seven stories; at the top, the Structures Unlimited 23,000-square-foot skylight system provides enough controlled daylight to make artificial lighting virtually unnecessary during daytime games. A structural aluminum box beam framing system incorporates an insulated Kalwall® translucent panel system to form the roof into a total composite system and fill the hall with an energy-efficient wash of balanced, glare-free daylight. Kalwall is a strategic partner of Structures Unlimited.

The nearby Yankees-East 153rd Metro North rail station, a design-build project of Domenich Hicks & Krockmalnic Architects (DHK) in association with Shaw Group Engineers and Halmar International/CCA Civil contractors, is daylighted by an over 13,000-square-foot custom low-profile segmented arch skylight. Challenged by having to work around active train lines, the pre-engineered Structures Unlimited system allowed quick installation without disrupting service and helped meet the project's tight $61 million budget and 24-month construction schedule. The station received the 2008 Rail Project of the Year award from the Design-Build Institute of America.

The Structures Unlimited roof systems of both the Great Hall and the train station comply with OSHA fall-through requirements, and also shine in terms of maintenance. Moving large numbers of people by commuter rail is good for the environment, but a city train yard is still a tough and dirty place. Just as at the stadium, the station's Kalwall panels are vandal-resistant and self-cleaning; grime simply washes away with each rainfall.

It has taken over three generations to replace the original and much-revered 1923 Yankee Stadium with the new one just across the street at East 161st Street and River Avenue. Its Great Hall and nearby train station are both daylighted by durable, glare-free Structures Unlimited skylight systems. Daylight will be welcoming fans of America's pastime for generations to come.

Specifications

Great Hall at Yankee Stadium
Bronx, NY

Architect: Populous (formerly HOK Sport Venue Event)

Clearspan Skylight: span varies from 30' 4" to 55' 2" wide by over 500' long (19,785 square feet)
U-Value: .53 Btu/hr/ft2/°F, or 2.74 W/m²K
Face Sheet Color: Ice Blue/White

Yankees-East 153rd Street Station
Bronx, NY

Architect: Domenich Hicks & Krockmalnic Architects in association with Shaw Group Engineers and Halmar International/CCA Civil contractors

Custom Low Profile Segmented Arch Skylight: 58' 11" wide by 223' long (13,109 square feet)
U-Value: .53 Btu/hr/ft2/°F, or 2.74 W/m²K
Finish: Aluminum
Face Sheet Color: White

Kalwall is a registered trademark of Kalwall Corporation U.S.A.
Structures Unlimited and Kalwall Corporation are strategic partners.

For other relevant searches, you might want to try:
(08600) Skylight