The recently renovated Michigan Stadium, the football stadium for the University of Michigan, features several high-performance products from Kawneer Company. The facility is the largest college-owned stadium in the US.
The 400,000 square feet project includes the addition of two 530ft-long multi-storey structures on both the east and west sides of the stadium. These additions include fan amenities, restrooms and concessions, guest suites, club seats and press facilities. With an intention to improve access and safety, one new concourse was added on both sides of the stadium. Other renovations include widening aisles and seats for comfort and safety, adding handrails and impaired mobility fan seating.
Michigan-based glazing contractors, Curtis Glass Co. and Lansing Glass Co., were selected to glaze the project.
The placement of Kawneer’s 1600 Wall System1 curtain wall units in the brick punched openings around the perimeter was key to the design strategy. On the field side, the segmented and inverted sloping 1600 Wall System2 curtain wall helps to update the stadium with a fresh new look and modern appeal as it provides a clean glass façade for the owners’ added floor space.
Kawneer’s StadiaView single hung windows were placed in the suites in order to enhance the expansive feeling of the stadium. It also provides unobstructed views of the action on the field. For increased durability and to stand up to the wear and tear caused by the heavy traffic in the Big House, Kawneer’s 500 Tuffline Entrances were installed. In addition, the stadium featured Kawneer’s Trifab VG (Versa Glaze) 451 framing on the interior as suite partitions, 260 Insulclad Entrances and 2000T Terrace Doors. Kawneer’s visually frameless windows, GLASSvent for curtain wall, have been incorporated into the project to increase airflow during warmer months. Several of the Kawneer products featured throughout the stadium are painted a custom blue to match the university’s colours and help in enhancing team spirit.
The work was phased over two football seasons during times when traffic was minimal. The $226 million project was funded through private donations, athletic department resources and revenue generated by the new seat additions.
Georgia-headquartered Kawneer Niorth America is a part of Building and Construction Systems (BCS) business unit of Alcoa, a US-based producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina.
