Northwestern University Opens Ryan Field

Northwestern University opened its new 35,000-seat Ryan Field on October 2, hosting the venue's first football game. Thornton Tomasetti provided structural design, erection and construction engineering, and temporary works inspection services for the stadium. 

Designed by HNTB and Perkins&Will, Ryan Field features a playing surface 21 feet below grade, allowing for a steeper seating bowl that brings fans closer to the action while reducing the venue's height and visual impact on the surrounding neighborhood. 

A sweeping canopy covers every seat, with exposed steel framing and bolted connections that contribute to the architecture and evoke Chicago’s elevated rail system. Open corners, terraces, plazas, and landscaped areas help connect Ryan Field to the surrounding community while creating spaces for use beyond game days. The design also provides more than twice the accessibility required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Working with fabricator Complex Structures Group, Thornton Tomasetti engineered the canopy erection sequence, helping bring one of the venue’s defining architectural features to life.