The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA, home to both the Atlanta Falcons NFL team and Atlanta United MLS team, stands as a groundbreaking multi-purpose venue. Spanning nearly two million square feet, this iconic structure accommodates approximately 80,000 fans, setting a new benchmark in stadium design, particularly in long-span roof architecture.
The stadium’s most striking feature is its oval retractable oculus roof, a world-first design. Composed of eight petal-like segments, this innovative roof appears to open and close with the elegance of a camera shutter, offering fans an open-air experience or a climate-controlled environment in moments.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium is not only visually stunning and technologically advanced but also a leader in sustainability, holding the distinction of being the first LEED Platinum certified professional sports venue in North America.
With a substantial 80,000-seat capacity, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium ensures an unparalleled experience for a vast number of spectators, solidifying its position as a top-tier destination for major sports and entertainment events in Atlanta.
The challenge presented to the design team was to create a world-class, high-performance stadium that was not only iconic but also incorporated a novel retractable roof mechanism, moving away from traditional bi-panel designs. Furthermore, the design needed to seamlessly integrate a massive scoreboard without obstructing views of the sky for the spectators.
“Buro Happold collaborated closely with HOK architects to develop a unique retractable roof concept that provides unobstructed views of the impressive 360-degree ‘halo’ scoreboard for every fan,” explains Roger Nickells, Partner at Buro Happold.
The Halo Board, a 360° high-definition LED video display, is a central feature of the stadium, ensuring a rich, immersive, and theatrical experience for fans, regardless of whether the roof is open or closed. Image courtesy of Buro Happold.
The solution implemented at Mercedes-Benz Stadium features a retractable roof that opens or closes in under 10 minutes. This is achieved through the movement of eight cantilevered “petals,” creating a captivating pinwheel effect during operation. Eight wing-like facade panels serve as an architectural homage to the Atlanta Falcons, contributing to the stadium’s distinct and sculptural form.
A key innovation in the roof design is the use of ETFE cushions. This transparent, inflated, lightweight material minimizes the load on the long-span cantilevered moving petals. When opened, the oval roof aperture extends the length of the field, beyond each end zone. The lightweight and translucent ETFE allows natural daylight to illuminate the field while providing expansive views of the Atlanta skyline.
The stadium’s facades, framed with lightweight steel, exhibit complex geometry, enhancing the iconic exterior. The eastern facade showcases a pioneering application of single-skin ETFE, forming a “window to the city” with panoramic views of downtown Atlanta. These single-skin ETFE facade panels are the first of their kind in the US, offering effective insulation to regulate heat gain within the venue.
Sustainability was a core principle in the stadium’s design. Achieving LEED Platinum certification, the highest level of environmental building certification, underscores this commitment. Buro Happold’s analytics team assessed the stadium’s carbon footprint, employing the LEEDv4 methodology for Life Cycle Assessment to inform material selection throughout the project. Additional sustainable features include an efficient water capture and reuse system and over 4,000 photovoltaic panels, projected to generate enough solar energy annually to power ten Atlanta Falcons home games.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s retractable petal roof showcases an exciting pin-wheel motion as it opens and closes, adding a dynamic element to the fan experience. Image courtesy of AMB Sports & Entertainment.
The collaborative efforts of the project team have resulted in a holistic design that ensures a unique and memorable fan experience within a visually stunning venue. Featuring an innovative long-span steel roof and the nation’s first single-skin ETFE facade, Mercedes-Benz Stadium stands as a groundbreaking example of how elegant design can create an iconic, fan-friendly, and high-performance building in the sports and entertainment industry.
