Architecture

Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, is not just a football stadium. In addition to hosting Super Bowl XL, the complex holds many performances and events.

Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan opened in 2002 and it looks brand new. But the round structure is actually set into the side of the historic Old Hudson's Warehouse complex, built in 1920. The remodeled warehouse has a seven-story atrium with an enormous glass wall that overlooks the Detroit skyline. The 1.7-million square foot stadium has 65,000 seats and 113 suites.

Building Ford Field posed unique challenges for the design team, lead by SmithGroup Inc. To fit this huge structure into the scenic Detroit entertainment district, the architects lowered the upper deck and constructed the stadium 45 feet below ground level. This plan gives spectators in the stadium seats excellent views of the playing field, without spoiling the Detroit skyline.

Design and Construction Teams

• Project manager: Hammes Company
• Architect/Engineer of Record: SmithGroup (Detroit, Mich.)
• Architects: Kaplan, McLaughlin, Diaz Architects (San Francisco, Calif.) Hamilton Anderson Associates, Inc. (Detroit, Mich.) Rossetti Associates Architects (Birmingham, Mich.)
• Stadium Structural Engineers: Thorton-Tomasetti (New York, N.Y.)
• Environmental Graphics: Ellerbe-Becket (Kansas City, Mo.)
• Team Store Designers: ST2/Thrive (Portland, Ore.)
• General Contractors-Stadium: Hunt/Jenkins
• General Contractors-Warehouse: White/Olson, LLC

Learn More: FordField.com