The media embraced the design of the 2 million-sq.-ft. facility in Atlanta. From Architectural Record and Interior Design to CBS News, check out this recap of the top stories.
The HOK-designed, $1.5 billion stadium has hosted an array of events since opening in August 2017, including the MLS Cup, the College Football Playoff National Championship game, the SEC Championship and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Yesterday Mercedes-Benz Stadium played host to its most significant event yet: the 53rd Super Bowl between the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots.
HOK’s design establishes a new architectural icon for Atlanta and a new benchmark for sports venues while creating a fan experience that is second to none. Designed for sustainability, the venue is North America’s first LEED Platinum professional sports stadium.
Here’s some of what the media reported about Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Architectural Record | Super Bowl 2019: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Architect Takes Us Inside the Venue
“’Over the years the creativity plateaued, and we were seeing stadiums that were really similar in how they worked and were designed,’ recalls HOK design principal Bill Johnson. ‘But when we interviewed for this project, we understood that Arthur Blank [the owner of the Atlanta Falcons] wanted an iconic architectural design, and that this was a time when we could break the mold and do something different.’”
The Architects’ Newspaper | Everything You Need to Know About Super Bowl LIII’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium
“The game will be played with an architectural backdrop unlike anything in the world.”
Interior Design | Super Bowl Exclusive: 5 Cool Design Features of Mercedes-Benz Stadium
“This year’s Super Bowl is practically a dream come true for architecture and design enthusiasts. … The highly-anticipated project was completed in August 2017, notably led by HOK design principal Bill Johnson. As the lead designer, Johnson led the HOK team in being radically innovative and re-thinking the potential of what a stadium could achieve.”
Architectural Digest | 2019 Super Bowl Stadium
“‘I imagined a circle of light appearing over the field and growing like a spotlight, the same way the light enters the oculus of the Pantheon in Rome,’ says Bill Johnson, design principal. “From that idea grew the structure, skin, and seating bowl configuration, so all design elements supported this big idea of bringing the energy and focus to the center of the stadium through the roof’s dramatic design.’”
Dezeen | 10 Important Architectural Sites in Super Bowl 2019 Host City Atlanta
“For sports fans or not, HOK’s 71,000-seat venue that plays home to the Atlanta Falcons NFL team is a spectacle–built from huge faceted plates that overlap to surround the central bowl.”
Wallpaper | The Top Buildings That Shaped Culture
“The stadium contains eight triangular steel and glass sections whose angular sides echo the logo of the Atlanta Falcons, and create a stunning imprint on the Atlanta skyline.”
Yahoo! Sports | Mercedes-Benz Stadium Roof a Marvel to Behold
“[Falcons owner] Arthur Blank said from the start that he wanted to create a venue that would change the experience of going to a game,” says Bill Johnson. “He wanted to create an icon, something that had never been seen before.”
CBS News | Super Bowl 2019: Inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium
“‘I think it starts with the architecture. It’s just stunning,’ says Scott Jenkins, the stadium’s general manager.”
CBS Sports | Fun Facts About Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
“The building has delivered on a promise to be the most sustainable stadium in the world, receiving the United States Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum certification and earning the highest score ever for a sports project.”
FOX4 KC | Kansas City Architect Has a VIP Super Bowl Connection
Video: Take a behind-the-scenes look at the design of Mercedes-Benz Stadium with lead designer Bill Johnson.
Accuweather.com | How Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium Helps Combat the City’s Flood Problems
“A significant component of the facility’s sustainability initiatives include water conservation, with a focus on reducing the amount of flooding in its neighborhood in northwestern Atlanta.”
iSportConnect | Bill Johnson on Four Design Features Worth Noting at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
“On the stadium’s west side, the window to the city spans more than 16 stories and 22,500 square feet, offering unforgettable floor-to-ceiling views of Atlanta. ETFE, the same transparent material used in the roof petals, provides visual connectivity and natural light while supporting the stadium’s ambitious sustainability goals.”
EarthCam | Mercedes-Benz Stadium Construction Time-Lapse
Jared Owen | How Does the Mercedes-Benz Stadium Work?