NFL team Miami Dolphins revamping stadium with major HOK-designed rooftop canopy
US National Football League (NFL) franchise the Miami Dolphins is racing to complete a US$450m renovation of its stadium before pre-season begins in August 2016.
The club is working with sports architects HOK to construct a new open-air rooftop canopy, which is designed to amplify crowd noise and cast 92 per cent of fans in shade from the fierce south Florida heat. The square roof will be supported by distinctive spiked steel pillars.
The Dolphins are also installing four 22,400sq ft (2,000sq m) HD video boards, new bar facilities, an improved audio system, fibre-optic Wi-Fi, LED lighting and improved surface light levels to boost energy savings.
The programme of renovations on the stadium, which first opened in 1987, began in 2015 with the installation of new seats and revamped concourses, incorporating murals by local artists.
When work began the ground was named the Sun Life Stadium, after the insurance group, but this was recently changed to the New Miami Stadium until another corporate sponsor is found.
The revamp project is being bankrolled by Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who wants to make the stadium “a global entertainment destination” that can host future Super Bowls, as well as college football championships, international soccer fixtures and festivals and concerts.
The team’s CEO Tom Garfinkel told Miami publication The Palm Beach Post that 24/7 construction work is keeping the project on schedule, and is sending a positive signal to NFL owners who will meet in May to vote on the hosts of the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Super Bowls.
The Dolphins last hosted American football’s highest-profile event in 2010, but reportedly has been told it has to improve its stadium to host again.
In addition to possible Super Bowls and NFL matches, the new-look stadium will also host University of Miami football and the annual Orange Bowl college football game.
Once the roof canopy is complete, work will begin on updating all existing premium space in the stadium. New suites have been designed in collaboration with Rockwell Group.
The New Miami Stadium is located in Miami Gardens, a suburban city to the north of Miami. It is located 27km from Overtown, where former England soccer captain David Beckham is planning to establish a new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise called Miami Beckham United, who will play in a new 25,000-capacity stadium.
NFL Miami Dolphins New Miami Stadium HOK architecture American Football Super Bowl design





Architects sought to rescue Miami's iconic powerboat racing stadium
David Beckham’s consortium secures MLS backing for stadium site
Beckham’s MLS franchise suffers stadium site issues


Bjarke Ingels-designed Oakland baseball stadium a step closer

London's Battersea Power Station prepares for major launch

Weiss/Manfredi and Reed Hilderbrand reveal US$250m redevelopment for Longwood Gardens, Philadelphia

Baca Architects submits scheme for floating eco-wellness resort

MVRDV reveal ambitious plans to create Marble Arch visitor attraction for London

Coventry's former IKEA building slated to become arts and cultural centre of international importance

World's first entirely wooden stadium approved for use by EFL

Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter and ASP Architecture create hidden nature retreat inspired by hygge and Nordic hospitality

Zaha Hadid’s Opus building houses spa designed by The Wellness

Meow Wolf creates mind-blowing Las Vegas attraction – Omega Mart

BRC selected to design new World Food Center – will explore sustainability and global food supply

Ritz-Carlton Reserve opens with luxury spa at Japanese alpine ski resort

Scott Brownrigg-designed Museum of Military Medicine in Cardiff given planning approval

Work starts on US$898m e-sports arena in Shanghai

Gyms added to the mix for new super-luxe retail roll-out

OMA designs Miami Beach's ReefLine – a seven mile-long underwater sculpture park

Ole Scheeren and Shigeru Ban team up to design art and cultural destination in Hangzhou

FIFA files criminal complaint over funding of €459m world football museum

ReardonSmith leads design of Heya – a hotel room concept offering personalisation for each guest

Disney reveals first visuals of ambitious Star Wars attraction – including designs for hotel 'pods'

Flaxmill Maltings – the world's first cast-iron framed building – is to be redeveloped as a visitor attraction by Mather & Co

LVMH announces Bulgari Hotel for Miami Beach, with design by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel

Technogym opens retail store in Los Angeles

AZPML and UKST win competition to design Korean Museum of Urbanism and Architecture

Delos partners with TPP Capital to advance access to health and wellbeing solutions in urban communities

The Well creates integrated wellness retreat in New England countryside for Auberge Resorts

Architects 10 Design reveal plans for ambitious Edinburgh city centre plans

Perth's Boola Bardip museum opens in new AU$400m building designed by Hassell and OMA

UK Government's £1bn scheme to decarbonise is 'a huge opportunity' for the leisure industries
