Overview

The iconic Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, FL is the new 18,000-capacity sports stadium, training facility and temporary home of David Beckham’s MLS soccer team, Inter Miami.

Inter Miami plans to launch its first two MLS seasons at the stadium while its permanent facility, Miami Freedom Park, is under construction.  The Lockhart site will then remain the permanent training complex for the clubs’ teams, including its youth academy.

Originally built in 1959, the stadium has undergone multiple renovations for various sports teams and was also the venue for Billy Graham’s final South Florida crusade in 1985.

KHS&S’s scope of work included installation of the exterior metal studs support system and various types of metal panels. KHS&S completed the work in less than four months.

Installing metal paneling while working outside at heights up to 90 feet had its challenges. Work included sub framing and attaching aluminum channel to the steel structure for the six-story building. The 9 x 4-foot FunderMax panels were engineered and fabricated off site and pre-drilled on the ground to meet the required precision of a 1/8-inch tolerance. Approximately 30 percent of the 40,000 square-feet of panels required customization. Each panel had to fit precisely in the correct location to ensure no rework was required in order to meet the condensed schedule. Panels were hoisted into place using 150-foot aerial boom lifts. Adhering to KHS&S’ commitment to developing Lean construction practices, the team created a holding shelf on the lifts. Industrial grade suction cups were used to move and place the large panels to increase efficiency. This allowed more time for the labor-intensive overhang work that required crews to physically hold and place each panel while installing.

For a complete project case study, download the project profile below.

Services

• Metal Stud Support systems
• Exterior Metal Panels