Barclays Center / 2012

ArchitectSHoP Architects

Executive ArchitectAECOM

Structural EngineerThe Thornton-Tomasetti Group Inc.

Services EngineerFlack + Kurtz Inc.

ContractorHunt Construction

Façade ContractorASI Limited

This large arena in Brooklyn serves as a multi-functional, state-of-the-art, performance and sports venue. Its development has been critical to the recent urban renewal surrounding the Atlantic Terminal train station and MTA rail yards. The building features a gestural morphing geometry with an exterior weathering steel lattice cladding. Front was retained to provide design and engineering services on the contractor’s side, as a provision of their design-assist services. Front helped rationalize the design into a unitized mega-wall system, composed of shop-fabricated mega-panels and a blast-resistant curtain wall system. Each mega-panel is a pre-assembled unit including the weather wall or glazing system in addition to the weathering steel rain screen lattice. Every panel of the rain screen is unique, and is composed of a v-cut and folded steel plate with an integrated gutter to collect runoff water. To manage the complexity of the design, Front developed innovative associative digital models to accurately define the façade geometries and generate shop drawings.