Peter Eisenman Architects and HOK designed the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It was completed in 2006.
The soft rolling form is inspired from a barrel cactus and is divided into 22 sections by vertical slits. These slits of glazing interrupt the metal panels that make up the exterior sheen. Each of these metal metals had to be chamfered to round out the overall form. A thick canvas material bubbles above to cover the structure inside.
The retractable roof is clear of all structure, unlike the Dallas Cowboys stadium, which is possible because of enormous girders running longitudinally above the field. It is quite a span.
But apparently that doesn’t provide enough sunlight for the natural turf, for which the stadium has a complete retractable side and rolling field that can be rolled outside of the stadium. It can rotate the field or just replace it with something else temporarily. This feature ate up much of the $455 million construction cost. At 63,400 seats, it accommodates quite a crowd for any event.
(Ken Lund– flickr/creative commons license)
(Ken Lund– flickr/creative commons license)
(Dougtone– flickr/creative commons license)
(Seth William Page– flickr/creative commons license)
(Tommy Klumker– flickr/creative commons license)
