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waterfield

Personally, I think the renditions look fantastic. You spoke of a canopy that lets light in and hopefully keeps the sound of the planes on their approach to LAX at a minimum. What is the canopy made of ?

poly(ethene-co-tetrafluoroethene). ETFE

transparent ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) roof

Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) is a fluorine-based plastic.

It was designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range.

ETFE is a polymer and its source-based name is poly(ethene-co-tetrafluoroethene).

ETFE has a relatively high melting temperature, excellent chemical, electrical and high-energy radiation resistance properties.

When burned, ETFE releases hydrofluoric acid.

While several NFL stadiums built in the past decade incorporate retractable roofs to protect against weather and to host events on non-game days, HKS principal Mark Williams, AIA, says the Rams’ fixed, clear roof will actually be more versatile.

“You’ve got beautiful weather 350 or so days out of the year, and you want to take advantage of that,” he says.

“But if you’re spending billions of dollars, you want to have events 365 days a year no matter what the conditions are outside.”

(HKS’s design for the Minnesota Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium, features a fixed roof, 60 percent of which is EFTE.)

The film roof will allow plenty of natural daylight into stadium and have a 30 percent shading coefficient, providing some sun protection.

Los Angeles’ semi-arid climate won’t go to waste, however.

The sides of the stadium, under the roof, will be left open, allowing for natural ventilation; thus, Williams says, the structure will use a comparable amount of energy as an open-air stadium.
[www.architectmagazine.com]