Baylor University’s McLane Stadium - An Insider’s Look at The Jewel on the Brazos
Being from the DFW area, it can probably be assumed that you have been one of the 42 million drivers on I-35 through Waco, TX at least once in the last year. Prior to 2013, you probably just passed through Waco, seeing a piece of Baylor University but not thinking much about it, unless you are a Baylor grad or have an affiliation with the University. But now, as you drive through Waco, you can see the shiny new stadium standing tall on the Brazos just East of the interstate. You can’t help but notice it. With its tall white columns, brick serrated walls, modern canopy that appears to float, the giant scoreboard and modern architectural features, you ask yourself, “Is this Waco? Is this Baylor?” As an engineer you are also asking, “Who did the design? What was the schedule? How far does the canopy truss cantilever? Are those columns slender? What does the foundation look like for a structure like that? What were all the challenges during design and construction?” This presentation will attempt to address all of those questions and more. It will give you an insider’s look at thedesign and construction of the $265M McLane Stadium and it’s Pedestrian Bridge from a structural engineer’s perspective. The presentation will include background of the stadium, the design process, and the challenges faced during the fast-track construction of the stadium.
A Senior Engineer with BuroHappold, Joshua Lee has over a decade of structural engineering experience in a diversity of project types including hospitals, office buildings, and manufacturing facilities, as well as stadia and sports complexes. Joshua graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural Engineering and has used his passion for both structural engineering and architecture in his career to work withclients to provide innovative solutions to today’s complex projects. Recently, Joshua spent two years on-site at the $265M McLane Stadium, managing the construction effort for BuroHappold during construction of the stadium and pedestrian bridge in Waco, TX. He worked with the team of engineers, architects, contractors and subcontractors to provide expeditious solutions to problems encountered during the fast-track construction of the stadium and bridge. His time on-site provided an invaluable insider’s perspective into the challenges faced during the construction of such a large project with such an aggressive schedule. Joshua currently lives in Kansas City and is managing the construction administration of the concrete bowl for the Atlanta Falcon’s new $1.4B Mercedes-Benz stadium.
1.0 Professional Development Hour
