TPT September 2009

I ndustry N ews

STI webinar highlights cost and weight advantage of hollow structural sections

THE Steel Tube Institute of North America has hosted a webinar that featured the cost/weight advantages steel hollow structural sections (HSS) is providing in the support structures of the video boards, ribbon boards and entry towers at the new Meadowlands stadium under construction in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. The webinar, viewed by architects, design engineers, fabricators and architectural professors, featured Mark VanDyk, project engineer for large sports venues for Daktronics, the world leader in fabricating and installing large electronic display systems. Mr VanDyk explained why Daktronics specifies HSS in the support structures for their large electronic display systems: “HSS meets our requirements for both strength and weight, and it saves on both fabrication and erection costs,” he says. The combination of scoreboards, video boards and display boards at the new Meadowlands Stadium makes the project the largest LED system in the world. All of the LED systems are supported by HSS structures. Inside the stadium are four 118ft x 30ft corner video screens; a 360-degree

1,800 linear foot ribbon board, which also acts as a protective rail; two 4ft x 130ft game-in-progress displays; and two delay- of-game clocks. Outside the stadium are a total of ten double-sided entry gate towers – six 38ft x 20 ft towers; two 54ft x 20 ft towers; and two 18ft x 32ft double-sided marquees located next to the motorway. The majority of the HSS used in the Meadowlands project is 6in x 4in rectangular shapes and 6in x 6in squares. The handrails are constructed of 1.5in x 1.5in tubing. The complete webinar, including questions and answers, is available on the Steel Tube Institute’s website at www.steeltubeinstitute.org. Go to

 How the new stadium will look once finished

the HSS section of the website and click on the HSS webinar banner. Steel Tube Institute of North America – USA Fax : +1 305 443 1603 Email : stina@steeltubeinstitute.org Website : www.steeltubeinstitute.org

 The structure is supported with light weight but strong hollow structural sections

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S eptember 2009

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