PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT 2ND QUARTER 2020 Innovation Out of Left Field
Walter P Moore’s Jeff Jansing, Shruti Sharma, and Joe Dowd explain the structural engineering achievements that helped bring Globe Life Field to life.
lobe Life Field—the new $1.1 Billion glazing throughout. A sprawling glass video boards visible from any vantage Ghome of Major League Baseball’s wall on the stadium’s north side point in the seating bowl ensure that (MLB) Texas Rangers—caters to baseball frames an inviting main entry from spectators never miss out on the action. fans of all ages. the adjacent Texas Live! Entertainment Loaded with stunning architecture District, a complex of hotels, retail Making Market Street designed by HKS, state-of-the-art and restaurants anchored by the The seating bowl at Globe Life Field is technology and fresh new gameday new ballpark. designed to bring the fans closer to experiences at every turn, the 1.7 Globe Life Field replaces Globe Life the action than ever before. The first millionft�, 40,300-seat venue features Park, itself a retro-style park that row at field level is 7ft closer to the an exceptionally intimate seating bowl, opened in 1994. The interior arches diamond than the first row at Globe a multitude of premium amenities and a along the left field and centerfield upper Life Park, while the second tier is 14ft distinctive, ETFE-clad retractable roof to concourses of Globe Life Field are an closer, and the upper bowl seating tier is protect cheering fans from rain or the ode to the original ballpark’s iconic 23ft closer. sweltering Texas sun. The 300,000ft�, exterior architecture. Incorporating The seating bowl is divided into seven single-panel roof takes a mere 12 the latest in LED technology, expansive tiers stacked vertically and drawn in minutes to travel over 400ft, creating closer to the field—leading to seven an open-air ballpark experience when distinctive front-row experiences—a desired and exposing spectacular views. welcome change for baseball Additionally, the otherwise climate- enthusiasts. Globe Life Field also controlled venue maximises natural features the closest suites to home light entering the stadium when the roof plate in MLB at less than 20 rows from is closed through the extensive use of the field. ETFE and glass. “We designed the seating bowl to be the The ballpark’s exterior design blends a most intimate in the league,” explains historic, retro-style brick façade with Greg Whittemore, HKS Principal and structural steel accents and extensive architectural project manager for Globe
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venue in Life Field. “Fans will be closer to the concourses: the Main Concourse at focus field on all levels – the lower bowl, as street level and the Upper Concourse globe well as the main and upper concourses. behind the top-loaded upper bowl. life field The seven-tiered bowl configuration Locating the concessions and the creates more variety in front-row restrooms on the outer perimeter of the seating experiences. We also improved concourses and sloping the structural designed as “market streets,” offer comfort by increasing both legroom and columns, braces, and shear walls away access to abundant food and retail the width of all seats.” from the field allowed both concourses opportunities sprinkled throughout the Faced with the challenge of suspending to be kept free of visual obstructions ballpark and an avenue for the fans to multiple elevated seating decks and and connected to the action on the field congregate and socialise. the suites directly above the lower at all times. During the game, three main video bowl, Walter P Moore devised a system Walter P Moore worked closely with boards provide an immersive experience of multi-storey cantilevered trusses HKS to strategically locate sizeable for the fans. The right-field board concealed within each suite divider wall openings in the Upper Concourse and (58ft x 150ft), left-field board (40ft x that eliminated any columns that would suite floor levels and utilise transparent 111ft), and the centerfield display (80ft have otherwise obstructed the sightlines ETFE cushions in the roof above to x 20ft) are substantially larger than in the lower bowl below. bring abundant natural light into the their respective counterparts in the As a result, 70% of the seating in the Main Concourse. previous ballpark. ballpark is between the foul poles, with As a result, the Main Concourse Walter P Moore devised the structure unparalleled sightlines and access from maintains the feel of an outdoor street supporting the left-field video board in every section. environment and an extension of Texas particular, skillfully hidden behind the Globe Life Field is also the first Live! even within the confines of the display, to allow the LED display to float MLB ballpark with two 360-degree ballpark. The spacious concourses, effortlessly above the Texas SkyPorch,
All images courtesy of Kelly Gavin / Texas Rangers
51 PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT 2ND QUARTER 2020
a fan amenity designed to make patrons The other three main entry points As referenced in PS&AM’s third quarter feel as if they were enjoying the game into the ballpark—south, southeast 2019 piece “Clear Cover,” ETFE features from their own relaxing front porch. and east entrances—are inspired by are prevalent throughout the ballpark. Texas porches. They feature 45ft to “Strategic placement of ETFE breaks Connected to History 60ft tall free-standing columns clad down the massive scale of the roof to in brick, stone and granite and a roof Globe Life Field’s most distinctive create clerestory and skylight effects,” trellis providing much needed shade to architectural feature is a series of Ortiz recalls. “The ambient light quality arriving spectators. 18 arches clad with Texas limestone, within the seating bowl and visual granite and brick. These 100-foot tall The uneven site which climbs 40ft in connectivity to the exterior will enhance arches are spaced at 60ft along the elevation from northwest to southeast the overall viewing experience.” 1,000ft long connection to Texas Live!, posed a challenge but ultimately presenting a compelling entrance into presented a unique opportunity. The retractable roof is bounded on the the new facility as well as supporting Aligning the Main Concourse with street east and west ends by two monumental the retractable roof, an elegant example level outside the park provide several box trusses serving to seal off the of form following function. advantages, including awe-inspiring volume contained within the stadium when the roof is in the closed position. Curtainwall glass, standing over 100ft views of the field upon entry. However, tall, spans between the arches and depressing the field level 70ft below Planar trusses span from the back of provides views into the ballpark from highest street level and into a severe the seating bowl to the bottom of each beyond left field. The main and the slope created structural, circulation, box truss creating a massive shade upper concourses weave through the and entry challenges along the entire structure that evokes the cantilevered arches and open up toward the field perimeter of the park. canopies of the old ballpark. When the into 60ft wide cantilevered balcony A 4,000ft long soil nail wall, which at roof is in the open position, the fixed seating sections. more than 250,000ft� of total area is east box truss features prominently to accommodate the massive right “One of the primary project drivers was considered the largest permanent soil nail maximising transparency,” says senior wall ever constructed in North America, field video board. The east box truss designer Fred Ortiz, HKS Principal. surrounds the lower levels of the park. also leads into and is supported by a signature sloping trussed column “The vast north-facing ‘window,’ The permanent retention system that slices through the seating bowl offering views into and out of the removed enormous unbalanced soil ballpark, is scaled proportionately to loads from the structure, providing anchoring the fan experience in the the entertainment district and provides increased space and flexibility in the southeast corner of the facility. an incredible backdrop to the overall lower levels of the ballpark. Walter P Globe Life Field represents a new era of arrival sequence.” Moore collaborated with HKS to step the baseball for the Texas Rangers and their While staying connected to the history retention wall inward where possible to devoted fans. Created to progressively of its predecessor on the north side, optimize interior spaces while reducing bring fans closer to the action than the architecture at Globe Life Field exterior skin materials and vertical ever before, the shifting geometry of is a unique blend of modern and circulation elements. the stadium invites patrons to truly traditional materials. Multistorey tall connect with each other and the overall curtainwall, metal panels, green screen, Roll With It gameday experience. Designed to host ETFE, precast and brick feature along The showpiece of the operable roof major concerts as well as professional multiple faces of the building and are design is the 650ft span and a 180ft sports, the stadium raises industry supported by steel girts and columns or wide racing stripe of ETFE pillows down standards and serves as a premier vertical trusses. the centre. venue in Major League Baseball. n
52 VENUE IN FOCUS GLOBE LIFE FIELD +1 800.364.7300 walterpmoore.com
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