The Intensity of Soccer with the Thrill of Metal

The Orlando sports scene just became more happening with the addition of the Orlando City Soccer Club’s Orlando City Stadium. Opening for the 2017 season, the stadium is all about just one thing—the intensity of soccer. The designers created an intimate stadium that makes a statement in the neighborhood and for soccer in North America.

The feel of the stadium starts with the exterior, and the Orlando City Soccer Club wanted an intense and intimate stadium with European features. The design had to reflect the neighboring buildings of the Church Street corridor and the nearby Amway Center, which features metal panels. Structurally, the design team needed a material that provided lighter exterior cladding structural loads. The wall panels also had to be efficient, meet required R-values and have a long lifespan. 

Designwall 4000 has enhanced design appeal and flexibility for custom designs. The panels can be installed both vertically and horizontally, reducing facility design limits. The wall system provides higher thermal performance with an R-value of 14-21 (per ASTM C1363). 

“Metal panels are an important part of making the stadium contextually responsive to the architecture of the surrounding neighborhood, an area in transition that is rapidly evolving. Additionally, the metal panels help break up the scale of the façade and provide economical exterior cladding on elevated floors of the building because of their weight and insulating qualities.’ 

“From an aesthetic standpoint, metal adds a perceived richness and premium quality to the stadium. On the structural side, it provides value by lightening exterior cladding structural loads. Insulated metal panels also offer an efficient way to achieve required R-values.”

-- Bruce Beahm, a principal at Kansas City, Mo.-based Populous and the project manager for Orlando City Stadium.

Designwall 4000 was installed by Eastern Corp., Norcross, Ga. Silver is the primary color with bands of Pewter incorporated between glazing and other metal panels. The brand color, City Purple, can be seen on mullion cap projections at the window openings on the concourse and club levels. The insulated metal panels were used primarily on the stadium’s west side to enclose the club level, which contains the team offices and west club, and the press level with a press box and suites.

“Our new facility truly reflects the energy and intensity of the growing soccer market here in the United States.” 

-- Orlando City Soccer Club CEO Alex Leitao

LOCATION

Orlando, FL

BUILDING OWNER

Orlando City Soccer Club

MANUFACTURER

Kingspan Panels NA

DATE COMPLETED

March 2017

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