Building Tension in Buffalo

Terry, Wesley R.; Storm, Gary A.; Houghton, Karen M.; Hofmeister, W. Steven; ,

Building Tension in Buffalo

by Wesley R. Terry, P.E., (M.ASCE), Principal Engineer; Birdair, Inc., Amherst, NY,
Gary A. Storm, P.E., (M.ASCE), Proj. Engr.; Ellerbe Becket, Kansas City, MO,
Karen M. Houghton, P.E., Proj. Engr.; Butler Heavy Structures, Kansas City, MO,
W. Steven Hofmeister, P.E., (M.ASCE), Senior Project Engineer; Ellerbe Becket, Kansas City, MO,

Serial Information: Civil Engineering—ASCE, 1997, Vol. 67, Issue 5, Pg. 40-43

Document Type: Feature article

Abstract:

The National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres have a new home, topped with an unusual tension-braced domed roof. An ingenious combination of dome designs, the Marine Midland Arena's roof combines the lightweight, clear-span advantage of a tensegrity cable dome with the clean and simple load path of a single layer braced dome. The Marine Midland Arena, home of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, is located in the Buffalo Central Business District at the point where the Buffalo River enters Lake Erie, near the newly designated Cobblestone Historic District, one of the oldest areas of downtown Buffalo. City officials view the arena as a catalyst for the redevelopment of success of both these districts.

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