SoFi Stadium Deemed a Game Changer in Sports Facility Design

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A Lesson in Biophilic Design

Sophisticated lighting system showcases many industry firsts.

“This stadium and master plan seem to be establishing a bold new direction in sports stadium design. The architecture creates a distinct sense of place to the activities all around the stadium,” says Award Juror: Joey Shimoda, faia.

SoFi Stadium, a multi-purpose sports event facility and entertainment complex in Inglewood, California is the home field for the National Football League’s (NFL’s) Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers. It is named for its primary sponsor, SoFi Technologies, San Francisco-based online personal finance company and online bank.

Typical stadium structures, from ancient Rome’s Coliseum onward, make a significant physical impression on the surrounding environment. Not so for the SoFi Stadium—the real sports action is 100 ft. below grade. Approximately one-quarter of the structure is at grade level, under a graceful, seemingly weightless

19.5-acre canopy. It covers the 70,000 seat capacity arena, a 6,000-seat performance venue, and the 2.5acre American Airlines Plaza, all nestled 100 feet into the ground due to the field’s proximity to Los Angeles International Airport, three miles away.

Described as the world’s first true indoor-outdoor stadium, architects and interior designers for the project were HKS, Inc. Lam Partners, based in Cambridge, Mass., were the lighting designers for the stadium’s interior public spaces and surrounding exterior spaces. Their collaboration for the NFL’s largest playing field involved the planning and integration of 35,000 shaped anodized aluminum panels and 302 semi-translucent EFTE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) roof panels. Over 1,000 individually controlled color-activated LED fixtures, including blue, the identifying color of SoFi and the Los Angeles Rams, enliven the arena with programmed patterns.

Lighting Design for a Living, Organic Form

Lam Partners principal James Perry describes the task of lighting the massive structure. “The field of play is certainly the primary focus of the project, but the overall stadium was envisioned as a living, organic form that could pulse with activity and motion from the field out to the exterior skin of the building. The lighting design and controls were a part of the story-telling of the architecture and the NFL excitement within.”

Perry and his team analyzed the lighting needs to comply with the complex geometry of the curving overhead panels that cover the interior area. “Each module is different,” Perry says. The designers performed 3D visualization studies and real-time parametric modeling using photometrically accurate simulations. A 40-ft. × 60-ft. section of an interior module was constructed to test the response to the lighting program.

One of the many firsts attributed to this project, Perry notes, is the LED media mesh that is draped across the clear membrane roof canopy. The entire roof and fifth elevation of the building becomes a large video board. LED messages and scores from the games underway are shown on the 80 millionpixel exterior roof for the benefit of passengers in planes landing or taking off from LAX. However brief, the sightings add credence to SoFi’s high-tech image. “The media mesh effect can’t be seen from within the seating bowl, which was important to the architect,” Perry says.

The mammoth suspended Samsung Infinity Videoboard, a two million pound, dual-sided, 4,000LED scoreboard, provides real-time visuals and information to fans from any place in the venue.

Lam also designed the landscape lighting for the 60-acre site surrounding the stadium which includes the reflecting pool. The exterior lighting is 3000K to create a warm and inviting environment. Interior architectural lighting is 3500K for balance between daylight and nighttime conditions. The primary source for interior ambient lighting was Lumenpulse; downlights were provided by Gotham Lighting.

The Lighting Brains at SoFi

An ETC control system that keeps all of SoFi’s decorative, functional, and informational systems running is integrated by 4Wall Entertainment. Buddy Pope and Brent Pritchett headed up the team that linked it all together. “Every single light that turns on and off are controlled via ETC Paradigm—restrooms, locker rooms, offices, concourses, exterior lighting, and even the signage a few blocks away,” says Pope.

On the entertainment side, Mosaic Show Controller X and an Eos console control the sports lighting and color-changing lights throughout the venue. Pope notes that “a big challenge was the sheer length of data and DMX runs.” To comply with California Title 24 rules, over 1200 Paradigm occupancy sensors are everywhere on the site. The Mosaic system controls all the signage on the campus, color changing and white light controls as well as a retail section that is under construction. The landscape lighting has its own distinct presets.

The stadium’s single-layer (ETFE) roof allows ample natural light and serves as a single canopy covering all three SoFi venues. The ETFE film features a 65% frit pattern that protects guests from direct sunlight and reduces solar gain into the venue.

The aluminum panels have more than 20 million perforations that provide light and air into the covered spaces. These passive and dynamic climactic responses create a distinctive microclimate within the stadium, protecting fans from sun and precipitation while encouraging cooling wind flows.

PROJECT SPECS

Project: SoFi Stadium & Entertainment District at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, Calif.

Client/Owner: StadCo LA and Hollywood Park Land Co.

Architecture & Interior Design: HKS, Inc.

Associate Architect: BCV Architects

Landscape Architect: Studio–MLA

Lighting Designers: Lam Partners (stadium roof, site and all spaces); KGM Lighting (interior suites, clubs, and hospitality areas)

Structural Engineer: Walter P. Moore & Associates

M/E/P Engineer: Henderson Engineers

Civil Engineer: Hall and Foreman, Inc.

Geotechnical Engineer: Delta Group

Master Planners: Hart Howerton

General Contractor: Turner/AECOM Hunt JV

Photography: Nic Lehoux Architectural Photography; Hollywood Park Land Co.

LIGHTING PRODUCTS

Interior Ambient Lighting: Lumenpulse Lighting www.lumenpulse.com

Downlights

Gotham Lighting gothamlighting.acuitybrands.com

Task Lighting: HK Lighting www.hklighting.com

Lumenpulse Lighting www.lumenpulse.com

Exterior: CO Technologies co-technologies.com

Musco Sports Lighting www.musco.com

Erco www.erco.com

Lumenpulse Lighting www.lumenpulse.com

Selux www.selux.us

Dimming System/Other Lighting Controls

ETC

Paradigm Mosaic Show Controller X and an Eos console etcconnect.com

Roof Media Mesh

SACO Technologies www.saco.com

Scoreboard Samsung Infinity Videoboard, 2-million pound, dual-sided, 4,000-LED samsung.com

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A Quiet, Stealth Ceiling

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Strut Multi Stealth Recessed Luminaires www.waclighting.com

Redefining Outdoor Lighting

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