Hogs Haven
Washington Post (paywall)
The first conceptual renderings of the new stadium, unveiled Thursday morning, showed a sweeping roof, a grand colonnade and plenty of callbacks to RFK Stadium.
A sweeping, translucent roof. Main entryways on the same axis as the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. A grand colonnade.
Those are among the most striking features in the conceptual renderings of the Washington Commanders’ new stadium released Thursday morning, the first glimpses of the structure that will be erected on the former RFK Stadium site.
The images, which show the exterior of the proposed stadium from different vantage points and in different lighting, are the first to be released by the Commanders since they hired HKS as their lead architect in November. While the design process is ongoing and changes are possible, the renderings reflect the major design principles agreed upon by the Commanders, including principal owner Josh Harris, and their lead architects.
The Commanders’ renderings show plenty of glass — including a “sculpted, transparent domed roof” — and massive windowlike entryways.
The Athletic (paywall)
The Washington Commanders’ new 70,000-plus seat stadium that will sit on the site of the old RFK Stadium will be both an homage to and an extension of the team’s storied past, complete with a wavy roof line, a transparent top that will resemble an open-air venue, a colonnade exterior and even foundations that will be fused with those of the old stadium.
“From the beginning, our focus has been on delivering a best-in-class experience for Commanders fans while honoring the legacy of RFK Stadium and our team,” team president Mark Clouse said in a statement. “We’re designing a stadium that amplifies the energy of football, supports year-round events and becomes a place the community can be proud of. We look forward to hearing feedback from our community as the design continues to evolve.”
The roof of the Commanders’ new stadium will be “anticlastic,” or shaped like a Pringle. So, unlike U.S. Bank Stadium, which has a lattice of steel trestles that support its clear roof but ultimately impede the view, the Commanders’ will have a cable net system to create “the most transparent roof that will enclose a large stadium anywhere on the planet,” according to one person directly involved in the stadium design and planning.
The goal is two-fold: one, to make fans feel like they’re outdoors, as they were at the old RFK Stadium.
The second aim: to create one of, if not the, loudest stadium in the NFL, much like RFK Stadium used to be. The transparent roof is intended to amplify the sound from the crowd back down to the field.
One source with knowledge of the stadium planning said the team has completed concepts for the interior and is beginning the “schematic” design phase, which will likely last into the late...
