ETFE Stadium Pioneer Proposes Soldier Field Retrofit for Chicago Bears
Edward Peck, an architect and a pioneer in ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), has suggested a renovation of Soldier Field in Chicago for the Chicago Bears utilizing ETFE panels. Originally developed by DuPont for aerospace applications, ETFE has been shaping stadium design since the early 2000s, with notable projects like the Eden Project (2001) and Allianz Arena (2005). Although North America was slow to embrace ETFE due to building code issues, its effectiveness was demonstrated in U.S. Bank Stadium (2016) and Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. Peck, who directed ETFE design at Thornton Tomasetti from 2008 to 2016 and now heads Edward PECK DESIGN, envisions a climate-controlled space featuring a multi-layer ETFE system and a new plaza, aiming for a year-round venue with reduced demolition and energy consumption.
Key facts
- Edward Peck proposed retrofitting Soldier Field for the Chicago Bears using ETFE panels.
- ETFE was originally developed by DuPont for aerospace applications.
- The Eden Project (2001) by Nicholas Grimshaw was an early proof of concept for ETFE in architecture.
- Allianz Arena (2005) by Herzog & de Meuron established ETFE as a defining stadium material.
- U.S. Bank Stadium (2016) was the first NFL stadium to use ETFE at scale, with 240,000 square feet.
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami integrated ETFE into a lightweight canopy with oculus skylights.
- SoFi Stadium (2020) in Los Angeles features a cable-net canopy with single-layer ETFE.
- Peck's Soldier Field design uses multi-layer ETFE with frit patterns for solar control and a transparent central roof for UV light.
Entities
Artists
- Edward Peck
- Nicholas Grimshaw
- Herzog & de Meuron
Institutions
- DuPont
- Thornton Tomasetti
- Edward PECK DESIGN
- Chicago Bears
- NFL
Locations
- Chicago
- United States
- Minneapolis
- Miami
- Los Angeles
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- New Zealand
- Beijing
- China