RYAN STARKOVICH, VENUE SECTOR EXECUTIVE, HENDERSON ENGINEERS SoFi Stadium Elevates the Sporting Experience Images: Henderson Engineers t’s tough to pinpoint the words to
the upcoming Super Bowl has inspired some
environmental air from restrooms, kitchens,
sufficiently describe the excitement
reflection on some of our proudest design
and so forth. Solving this hurdle required
that myself and many of my
approaches at SoFi. While the list is extensive,
some outside-the-box thinking, and we found
colleagues at Henderson Engineers
I’ll touch on three that especially stand out:
the solution within the areaway between the
feel ahead of the 2022 Super Bowl. While a lot
inventive ventilation, interconnectivity, and an
building wall and the grade wall. The space
of sports fans look forward to the championship
operable grid system for field lighting.
was in place to meet the seismic requirements
I
game every winter, this year’s is extra special
006
that are standard in California. Our designers
for us since it’s being hosted at SoFi Stadium
1. Inventive Ventilation
opted to use the gap, which would typically
in Inglewood, Calif., right outside Los Angeles.
Given SoFi Stadium is located just four miles
be unutilised, as a passageway for incoming
Henderson had the pleasure of serving as
from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX),
and outgoing air both with and without ducts
lead engineer for the state-of-the-art venue,
the Federal Aviation Administration required
depending on the air source. We’re proud to
providing acoustics, audio-video, electrical, fire
the building to top off at 200 feet or less so as
have implemented this nontraditional route to
protection, mechanical, plumbing, security, and
not to interfere with flight paths. This meant
provide comfort and good air quality, which is
telecom building systems design services.
building underground to achieve the scope
a hidden but impactful element of the stadium
We were enlisted for the project in 2014
envisioned for the project. Consequently, the
experience.
and were on board throughout the six-year
field sits around 90 feet below ground level,
duration of the build. While major events
a depth that is uncommon within the NFL
2. Interconnectivity
have been hosted at SoFi since its opening in
and other major professional sports leagues.
In addition to SoFi, Henderson was the lead
2020, nothing quite matches the Super Bowl.
Furthermore, as you move around the structure,
engineer for the entire 298-acre Hollywood
In addition to around 100,000 live spectators,
you will find yourself between two and five
Park mixed-use development anchored by
the game will be broadcast to approximately
levels below grade.
the stadium. We provided a variety of design
150 million people around the world. It’s
As a result, a notable challenge was moving
services throughout the complex, which
amazing that our engineering expertise will
air into these recessed areas from outside
includes an NFL media building (security
be showcased in front of that many viewers at
the building and vice versa to provide air
and telecom), two million square feet of
once. As Henderson’s venue sector executive,
conditioning as well as discharge non-
retail and workplace space (audio-video, fire
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