Empower Field at Mile High

OWNER

Metropolitan Football Stadium District

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Construction Cost
$364 Million

Completion Date
2001

Project Size
76,125 seats

Empower Field at Mile High

Denver
Colorado

Walter P Moore provided structural engineering services for Empower Field at Mile High, the home of the Denver Broncos. The 76,125-seat stadium was built adjacent to the 50-year-old Mile High Stadium, which was subsequently demolished. The project was delivered using a competitive design-build arrangement.

The upper portion of the stadium is wrapped in a silver aluminum skin, giving it a sleek, futuristic appearance. The horseshoe-shaped seating includes a lower bowl, two suite levels, club level, and upper bowl. Walter P Moore developed a two-way post-tensioned concrete system for the superstructure, ultimately saving approximately $2 million in construction cost. This system accommodated the stadium’s sinuous geometry, resulting in wider column spans in the concourses and suites.

Because the Broncos wanted to retain the home field advantages of an extremely noisy stadium, Empower Field took a cue from Mile High Stadium and utilized steel treads and risers. After extensive vibration studies, an appropriate steel material was selected that allows the crowd to match the “Rocky Mountain Thunder” that has made Denver the most successful home team in the league.

Innovation
Walter P Moore developed a two-way post-tensioned concrete system for the superstructure, ultimately saving approximately $2 million in construction cost. This system accommodated the stadium’s sinuous geometry, resulting in wider column spans in the concourses and suites.