To earn LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, architects at Dallas-based HKS Inc. incorporated any number of ecologically friendly design elements in University of North Texas‘
$78-million, 30,850-seat Apogee Stadium in
Denton, Texas. The project included selecting renewable and recycled construction materials, reducing energy and water consumption, and reducing CO2 emissions through the incorporation of three wind turbines to generate power.
“The athletic department and university facilities group wanted something contextual but that would push the limits of what they could get for the money,” says Jim Herckt, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, project architect at HKS.
To create a cohesive look with other campus buildings, brick was utilized to construct stadium walls. A total of 49,754 square feet of 4-mm Alucobond aluminum composite from 3A Composites USA Inc., Statesville, N.C., was installed. The panels included 48,320 square feet Alucobond in Sunrise Silver Metallic and 1,334 square feet of Alucobond in custom Mean Green. The Sunrise Silver Metallic Alucobond is installed as cladding on the press box, suites and club exteriors and as fascia beneath canopies. The custom Mean Green Alucobond is installed as a design accent in areas such as ticketing booths, and behind the 15- by 27-foot north end zone video scoreboard.
“We focused on building things that matter the most in the beginning because you can always embellish them later,” says Herckt. “We focused on utilizing local materials and green materials-the right materials-from the beginning. We wanted to make it simple.”
Matthew Le, head of project management at NOW Specialties Inc., Carrollton, Texas, says NOW Specialties was challenged to fabricate the Alucobond panels in a cantilever design for the stadium’s upper-level club area and then install those panels above tiers of flat metal-bench bleacher seating. “We came up with a unique scaffolding system that helped to spread the load and allowed us to reach the club-level panel and canopy areas,” says Le. “Once installed, our metal panel system looked outstanding. We’ve received many compliments on this project.”
While environmentally conscious, the collegiate stadium was built on 46 acres and is uniquely designed as a horseshoe-shaped bowl. Opened in September 2011, the stadium also features several high-end elements, including: two state-of-the-art video boards, 21 luxury suites, 750 club-level seats, a high-tech press facility, banquet rooms and a team apparel store. Manhattan Construction Co., Dallas, was the general contractor.
Alucobond by 3A Composites USA Inc.,
www.alucobondusa.com
