Commercial Architecture December 2017 - 40

PROJECT

lighting

Illuminating
Touchdowns

rom the outside in, Atlanta's new, $1.5-billion Mer-

immersive viewing experience for 71,000 fans (with as

cedes-Benz Stadium one-of-a-kind design makes

many as 80,000 seats possible for special events). This in-

a statement. Home of the Atlanta Falcons of the

cludes 7,500 club seats and 180 luxury suites.

National Football League (NFL) and the Atlanta United

The lower deck encloses the playing field, and addition-

FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), the amenity-filled sta-

al seating decks are located on both sides of the field. Not

dium stands out during the day. Thanks to aesthetically

only can fans watch the action on the field or scoreboard,

pleasing, high-efficiency LED lighting solutions from Los

but they also can see the Atlanta skyline through the Win-

Angeles-based Acclaim Lighting, it also makes a bold state-

dows to the City, which is located on the east end of the

ment at night.

stadium. This floor-to-ceiling window brings natural light

Completed in August 2017, the 305-ft.-tall stadium's distinctive facade consists of a lightweight polymer surface

If there were a
Super Bowl for
lighting, Atlanta's
Mercedes-Benz
Stadium would
take home the ring.

into the stadium and provides spectacular views of downtown.

with adjustable opacity. This lets the stadium facilities team

For those who want to wander from their seats during

control lighting at any time of day. The structure's pin-

an event, the stadium's numerous clubs and lounges, in-

wheel-like, oculus retractable roof allows natural light to

cluding the Champions Lounge, behind the Falcon's

enter the stadium in two ways: with the roof open or

bench, provide comfortable viewing areas. Open to all

through the facility's north and east ends. Reminiscent of

fans, the 100 Yard Club is a football-field-length themed

the Roman Pantheon and a falcon's wings, the roof is made

gathering and socializing area with concessions, bars, and a

up of eight triangular sections and can be opened or closed

beer garden. Altogether, the stadium has more than 600

in 10 minutes.

concession areas featuring many unique eating options. A

Inside the stadium, football fans encounter one of the

100-ft.-high, mega-column 3D video board and multiple

most unique experiences in the NFL. The stadium's center-

LED ribbon boards provide highlights and game statistics

piece, a 63,800-sq.-ft., halo-shaped video board spans the

from kickoff to the end of the fourth quarter.

retractable roof's perimeter. The 360-deg. screen is 58 ft.
tall and runs 1,100 ft. around the stadium, providing an

A TEAM APPROACH

The lighting team worked around numerous challenges
while creating aesthetic and functional lighting for the
structure, with many of the lighting requirements using
Acclaim Lighting products. Lighting in architectural cove
areas in the locker rooms, suites, and corridors; accenting
the locker-room entrances; and illuminating art installations and sculptures required extensive planning.
For the accent coves, Shane Wallace, project technician
for Ardd and Winter, Atlanta, said, "It was important to get
fairly high lumen output and be able to dim without light
flicker. In addition, the various mounting-channel options
allowed for many customized installations"
To achieve this, Acclaim's thin, flexible Flex II interior
LED circuit strip was used, based on the product's ability to
provide lumen output that matched and exceeded the expectations. The circuit strip is available in multiple color
options from 2400 K and 2700 K to 3000 K, 3500 K, and
4000 K. Lumen output is 303/ft. at 4000 K. Flex II can be
cut every 2 in. to create the exact length needed for specification applications. The Flex II's combination of high output and low profile provided a winning solution for multiple accent-cove applications including locker room
entrances, under cabinet and around countertops and millwork in the suites, and at the bars.
"Acclaim's LED solution provided the flexibility for
cleanly integrating into the many architectural details
across the project," said architectural lighting designer Jay
Wratten, WSP, Atlanta. "With over 5 miles of linear LED
tape on the project, [the company's] many options allowed
High-efficiency LED lighting solutions make Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium light up inside and out.

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

DECEMBER 2017

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

us to minimize vendor solutions and simplify maintenance
for the owner."

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture December 2017