Soldier Field and Design Integration

The 2nd Annual Michael J. Theiss Memorial Lecture

Monday, February 16, 2004
7:00 P.M. - Lawrence J. Plym Auditorium
Temple Hoyne Buell Hall

Joseph G. Burns, P.E., S.E., FAIA
Managing Principal, Thornton Tomasetti Engineers
Chicago, Illinois

Bringing Chicago's historic Soldier Field into the 21st century meant fitting a full-size, modern stadium into a 600-foot-wide space on a 20-month schedule. The project required close integration between architectural and engineering design, and with the construction process.

The solution came from the architects who were able to creatively approach this project. Absent the clutter of preconceived notions, they hit on the answer: an asymmetrical design with all general admission seats on one side of the stadium and stacked luxury suites atop two cantilevered club decks on the other. But carrying the inventive design from concept to completion, within the demanding schedule, would require creative engineering and innovations in steel construction.

The schedule had influenced the decision to use a structural steel rather than a cast-in-place concrete frame for the new stadium. Thornton-Tomasetti performed the main structural analysis for the stadium framing with SAP2000 for 3D analysis and Ramsteel for 2D floor framing.

To accelerate the steel fabrication and erection process, Thornton-Tomasetti, in a joint decision with the project team members, adopted Xsteel 3D modeling software by Finland’s Tekla Corp. Widely used in Europe, Xsteel produces a full-size, annotated computerized model. Once the model is in place, piece drawings for fabrication and general arrangement drawings can be produced automatically.

The use of Xsteel modeling helped avert costly miscues from design to fabrication and installation. As an added benefit, the 3D geometry of the steel work was available to Permasteelisa Cladding Technologies, facilitating the design and assembly of the stadium’s non-rectilinear panelized cladding system. Permasteelisa utilizes 3D modeling program CATIA in the design and production of its cladding systems.

Soldier Field opened successfully on September 29, 2003 through the teamwork of the design and construction team, providing many examples of design integration.

About Michael J. Theiss

An Illinois alumnus, Michael J. Theiss (1947-2000) received his bachelor of Architecture in 1970 and a master of Science in Architectural Engineering in 1971. He was a partner in the office of James Ruderman, a New York City structural engineering firm. The Michael J. Theiss Memorial Fund was established to encourage and promote the study of structures in architecture and to facilitate interaction between students and practicing architects and structural engineers.