The newest – and most stylish – stadium in the NFL is also one of the “greenest,” with a comprehensive rainwater recycling system based on PENETRON crystalline waterproofing technology. The first Atlanta Falcons home game is set for the 2017 season opener, but the concrete structures treated by PENETRON were completed this month.
Set to open in time for the 2017 NFL season opener, the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, will be the home of the National Football League’s Atlanta Falcons and Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United. The multi-purpose stadium will also host other major sports and entertainment events, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Final Four basketball tournament in 2020. The striking architecture of the stadium features a unique circular roof opening inspired by the oculus in the Pantheon of ancient Rome. The opening can be covered by eight triangular roof-petals that function similar to a camera iris.
Built on an approximately 42-acre area, the project’s total cost when complete could be as much as $1.4 billion. Seating capacity can be set up for 75,000 seats to host a future Super Bowl or FIFA World Cup event, but it can be expanded to as many as 83,000 seats for other events, such as the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
“This new stadium not only looks spectacular, it has numerous environmental features that will help qualify the project for the coveted LEED certification,” explains Christopher Chen, Director of The PENETRON Group. “It integrates the latest in sustainable design, construction, and operation to minimize the environmental impact of such a large facility.”
The LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council verifies that a construction project meets the highest green building and performance measures. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium project will apply for the Gold Level certificate, one of the program’s highest levels for sustainable construction, which includes advanced solutions for energy efficiency, low water usage and recycling, use of regional/local materials, access to renewable energy resources, enforcement of stringent air quality standards, and a comprehensive recycling system.
The rainwater recycling system is based on an underground water storage vault (two million gallons) and the cistern (700,000 gallons) located outside the stadium. The stored water will be used to irrigate the landscaped Fan Plaza and the numerous garden areas located throughout the sports facility. The concrete used for the storage vault, cistern structures, and major concrete water conduits (over 4,500 cubic yards) was treated with PENETRON ADMIX to ensure a waterproof and durable structure.
“PENETRON crystalline technology has been proven in numerous sports stadium projects across the globe, including: the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing; the Winter Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi, Russia; the last two FIFA World Cups in South Africa and Brazil; and next year’s Summer Olympic venues in Brazil,” adds Mr. Chen. “It’s become a game-winning application for our clients – and these large structures show off the performance of the PENETRON System to great advantage.”
Going up: Bird’s-eye view of the construction site mid-July 2015; the concrete foundation is complete.
