Almost everyone can picture a sports stadium, an airport, or a bridge – we have all either been in, at or on one of them at one point in our lives. A huge football stadium that can close its roof, an airport by the sea that is impervious to corrosion, and a glass-bottomed bridge that allows only the most steel-hearted of pedestrians to look deep into one of the most famous canyons on earth – all made possible through innovations in steel.

Rolling Back the Roof at NRG Stadium

This year’s pro-football championship game between Atlanta and New England will be held at Houston’s NRG Stadium where hardcore Falcons and Patriots fans are rushing to get their hands on some of the few tickets left. Tickets are reselling for an average of $5,101, but if you want a view from the 50 yard-line it is going to set you back USD $11,000 to $12,000.

NRG Stadium, completed in 2002, is famous for being the first-ever NFL stadium with a retractable roof – allowing events to be held in open air or air-conditioned comfort.

The Houston Texans play at NRG Stadium (formerly Reliant), November 18, 2007. (Photo courtesy of Ed Schipul)

Designed to utilize the principles of kinetic architecture, the roof is able to open and close without reducing the overall structural integrity. The roof’s panels are 117m x 152m and supported by two sections of five trusses each that meet at the 50-yard line. These two sections are supported by two supertrusses that run for almost 300m each along the field’s sidelines. Along each supertruss is a wheel rail to guide the roof as it opens and closes, in as little as 10 minutes.

With so many moving parts, the retractable roof represents an amazing feat of engineering. The steel beams, trusses, and motors weigh thousands of pounds, but it is still able to zip open in a few minutes. Come rain or come shine, ticketholders will be able to stay dry until the winner raises the Lombardi Trophy at the big game on Monday.

Stainless Steel at Incheon International Airport
With over 49 million passengers each year, Incheon International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, and consistently ranked as one of the best. Internationally praised for its remarkable facilities and services, which include a spa, golf course, movie theater, museum, and ice skating rink; the airport also prides itself on its efficient design.

A bird’s-eye view of the second passenger terminal at Incheon International Airport. Because of its non-corrosive properties and stylish appearance, POSCO’s 446M steel will be used as an exterior material.

When the first passenger terminal was built in 2001, they decided to use POSCO’s 446M stainless steel. The 446M steel contains high amounts of chromium (26%) and molybdenum (2%), which gives it superior corrosion resistance – excellent for use in exterior construction near coastal areas, like Incheon.

Seventeen years after the construction of the first terminal, there have been little signs of corrosion. So, as preparations began for a new second terminal, the airport decided to use the same type of stainless steel. Also, a bead blast process will be applied to the steel that will give it a rough texture to lower the reflectivity rate for aircraft pilots during take-offs and landings.

Despite being located on a small island in the Yellow Sea, the stainless steel used at Incheon Airport has been almost completely unaffected by corrosion. Already in its 17^th year of operation, the stainless steel exterior will ensure that it lasts much longer.

Seeing Deep into the Canyons at Zhangjiajie, China

The majestic Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, located in the western part of Hunan Province, is one of the most beautiful sites in China. Made famous in the Western world when James Cameron used it as inspiration for the landscapes in his film Avatar (2009), it is best seen atop the world’s highest and longest bridge.

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge view from west side of gorge. (Photo courtesy of HighestBridges)

Sitting 300m over the canyon, the Zhangjiajie glass bridge gives visitors a breathtaking, and terrifying, view of the park. The bridge is supported by 4 support towers and a steel frame with over 120 glass panels set into its walkway. The towers are installed directly into the canyon sandstone and each panel of glass is layered, so that even if one layer cracks, the others will hold.

Those with stomachs of steel can enjoy the bridge while experiencing one of the most beautiful parts of the world. The glass floor may seem fragile, but the steel frame holds it together to create one of the most amazing yet vertigo-inducing views.

If we look around, we will see that steel is everywhere. For something that seems so ordinary, it can also change the way we see buildings, and even change the way we see the world.

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Kicking Off a New Era in Stadium Design

Resource: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcwest/14950418961, Jim Bahn.

Home of the San Francisco 49ers, the recently built Levi’s® Stadium is the epitome of next-generation stadium design. The $1.2 billion venue boasts an open design anchored with spacious entry plazas. Some 68,500 seats encapsulate the fourteen-acre stadium, though seating can be expanded to 75,000 for large events such as the upcoming Super Bowl as well as concerts, motocross events and conferences.

In June 2010, voters in Santa Clara approved a statute authorizing the creation of the Santa Clara Stadium Authority, a tax-exempt public authority, to construct and own the new football stadium, and for the city government to lease land to the authority. A construction loan, funded by private investors, was secured in December 2011, enabling construction to begin in April 2012. In July of that year, the first steel beams were inserted into the ground at the stadium site to commence the assembly of the frame of the stadium.

Jamie Matthews, mayor of Santa Clara, was in attendance as the ceremonial first steel beam was put into place. “There are many important construction milestones for projects of this size. Adding steel is not only visually appealing but also represents both symbolic and real strengths of the project. As the steel goes up, you will see the stadium take shape and grow,” Mayor Matthews noted at the event.

A Touchdown for Sustainability

And grow it did. All in all, approximately 18,000 tons of steel were used to support the 1.85 million square foot stadium. About 14,000 pieces of steel were installed—the largest weighing 36,000 pounds—while an estimated 127,000 bolts were utilized to keep them secure. Furthermore, the steel used in Levi’s® Stadium is 95 percent recyclable, adding to the stadium’s green properties.

In addition to the structure’s recyclable steel, the stadium utilizes enough solar panels to power its ten 49ers home games completely through the collection of solar energy throughout the year. Three solar bridges, which connect the main parking area to the stadium, showcase this technology in a beautiful way.

Yet, one of the most unique features of the facility is the green roof that sits atop the suite tower on the west side of the stadium, which aids in lowering the amount of energy it needs to heat suites during winter or cool them during summer. Ample access to public transit, water-conserving plumbing and electric vehicle recharging for spectators also contribute to the stadium’s industry-leading sustainability efforts.

Resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-brmGz3uEAg

These state-of-the-art attributes were no doubt a contributing factor to Levi’s® Stadium being recognized as the Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal in May of 2015. A month later, it was also named Venue of Year for 2015 at the The Stadium Business Awards in Barcelona, Spain. It’s certain that as new sports arenas like Levi’s® Stadium continue to be built with a focus on sustainability, steel will continue to be the go-to construction material.

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University of Phoenix Stadium 

(Image Source: University of Phoenix Stadium Official Website)

Located in Glendale Arizona in America, University of Phoenix Stadium is a multi-purpose facility with unique features of retractable steel roof and field. The 63,400-seat stadium, which is expandable to 72,200, have the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and Annual VIZIO Fiesta Bowl as the primary tenants. As a marvel of design, engineering, and technology, the stadium was voted as one of the top ten sports facilities in the world by Business Week in 2006.

Here are some facts that even football enthusiasts might have not known before. With a solid mission for the environment, University of Phoenix Stadium is a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). When tailgating, a big part of game day experience, guests are given complimentary recyclable bags for disposal of recyclable materials. While the 10% of stadium’s seating is made from recycled plastic, the venue uses “Green” products such as hand soap, all cleaning solutions, microfiber mops and rags to preserve water and the environment.

Another interesting fact about the stadium is that the stadium’s field is wheeled in and out on 546 steel wheels that ride along 13 parallel steel rails, traveling 741 feet. It is almost unimaginable to guess how much steel was used for the construction!

(Reference: University of Phoenix Stadium Official Website)

Allianz Arena

(Image Source: Allianz Arena Official Website)

Allianz Arena, Europe’s contemporary stadium, with the size of more than 70,000 spectators, is the third home for FC Bayern Munich. Its extraordinary facade, covered with 2,760 diamond-shaped cushions, constantly amazes visitors. The stadium is always filled with fans every season because of the tenant team’s star players and other facilities such as outstanding catering and parking space at the venue.

As a special feature, Allianz Arena is lit in red when the host team is Bayern Munich, in blue when it is 1860 Munich, and in white when the German national team hosts the football match.

For the construction of Allianz Arena, approximately 22,000 tons of steel was used. The retractable roof is where massive amount of the steel was applied to. Overall, the stadium was warmly welcomed by the Munich community and more than 60 percent considered Allianz Arena as a favorable construction project. According to “Cicero”, political journal, the stadium became Germany’s favorite sports location.

(Reference: Allianz Arena Official Website)

Estádio Municipal de Aveiro

(Image Source: Panoramio)

Located in Aveiro, Portugal, Estádio Municipal de Aveiro Stadium was designed for UEFA Euro 2004 tournament as the fifth-largest football ground of the country. A home ground for Sport Clube Beira-Mar of the Segunda Liga, the stadium is a venue for various football matches including the Portugal national team games.

Estádio Municipal de Aveiro Stadium is known for its dynamic design which is a combination of simple shapes and lively colors. Designed by Tomás Taveira, the stadium benefits from its cheerful colors as the intense tonalities bring out the celebration atmosphere of sporting events. Examples of the polychromic feature are red steel pylons, sky-blue edges of the roof and seating areas of rainbow shades. Having a capacity for 32,830 spectators and the special design features, the stadium is visually appealing both empty and full of people.

(Reference: Wikipedia)

Michigan Stadium

(Image Source: MGoBlue)

One of the America’s most classic stadium, Michigan Stadium, also known as the Big House, is a symbolic icon of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Opened in 1927, which was the golden age of college football, the stadium was modeled after the Yale Bowl and was constructed with 440 tons of reinforcing steel and 31,000 square feet of wire mesh. Started with an initial capacity of 84,401, the venue currently upholds up to 109,901 spectators after a major renovation in 2010. Although the stadium is not known for extravagant colors or sleek, modern design, the stadium embodies its own meaning as one of the oldest and largest college football arenas in America.

(Reference Source: MGoBlue)

Wembley Stadium

(Image Source: Wembley Stadium Official Website)

Sponsored by EE, Wembley Stadium is a multiplex football stadium in Wembley Park, London, United Kingdom. Wembley Stadium is known for hosting major football matches, such as FA Cup Finals and home ground matches for England National Football Team. Wembley Stadium opened in 2007 after demolishing the previous Wembley Stadium. The stadium has a retractable roof, just as many other modern stadiums, and 134m-high Wembley Arch over the venue. .

Wembley Stadium is one of UEFA category 4 stadiums. Category 4 is the highest of the category. With 90,000 in capacity, Wembley Stadium is the second largest stadium in Europe and largest in the United Kingdom. Considering the immense size of the structure, which even contains 2,618 toilets, about 23,000 tons of steel were used for its renovation. This stadium is currently owned by the Football Association where HRH the Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) being the current president.

(Reference: Wembley Stadium Official Website)

As shown, today’s large venues, especially these amazing stadiums, are built on steel skeletons. As an essential material for the modern world, steel will continue to evolve into even more ambitious and innovative creatures in the future.