The project was envisaged by the Wolff Family, owners of the Major League Soccer (MLS) team and Major League Baseball team, Oakland Athletics, who saw the potential of this difficult site. Previously a military production site, and immediately adjacent to San Jose’s airport,  the project encountered many ground issues with soft soil loading, unmarked underground structures and the fact it was in a seismic zone. Engineers MKA of Seattle and 360 Architecture (now part of the global HOK team) worked through these problems and found the strength and weight savings of SPS stadium decking proved to be the best solution to address ‘high regional seismicity, poor soil conditions, and fan-induced vibrations’.

Unlike traditional materials used for stadium decking, such as concrete or aluminum, SPS is regularly used for its seismic resilience and helped to deliver the largest indoor arena in the world, the Philippine Arena.

With a steep raker design, the 18,000-seat facility boasts some of the closest views of the field of any soccer specific stadium, incorporating many new innovative design solutions and fan features including the longest bar in an MLS venue. Access and egress are fast and safe. The SPS stadium decking has weathered the test of time looking ‘new’ at every event, unlike those areas where concrete was selected for the corner gathering platforms.

The SPS stadium decking and vomitory walls were part of this coordinated effort, with all construction information coming directly from the BIM model, helping to minimise the workload.

Read more about the award-winning BIM coordination in ‘BIM Scores at San Jose Earthquakes’ New Stadium’ from Informed Infrastructure magazine.

Community involvement is huge with the Earthquakes’ fans, and they boast the Guinness Book of World Records entry for the most people taking part in a groundbreaking ceremony, providing shovels for an extraordinary 6,256 participants hand digging at the soccer-specific stadium’s opening.