Ryan Field Redevelopment

overview

The new home for Northwestern University Athletics, Ryan Field will be a world-class stadium that will serve as a year-round hub for community activities while offering improved accessibility. Outdoor plazas and green spaces will anchor the stadium within its context, providing space for tailgating and proving a community asset by hosting festivals and other programming.

Thornton Tomasetti is providing structural design and construction engineering services to HNTB, which is serving as the lead design architect and architect of record in collaboration with associate design architect Perkins&Will. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification.

highlights

• Seating capacity was reduced for a more intimate experience to 35,000, which will bring fans closer to the field with improved sightlines while decreasing traffic in the area.
• A state-of-the-art canopy gives the stadium a modern look while containing crowd noise and lighting pollution.
• Accessibility is a priority for the design, which features widened entries and ramps, grab bars and improved restroom layouts.