DMR Architects of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey designed the new train station at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey to bring rail service to the Meadowlands Sports Complex, a world-class facility comprised of the Meadowlands Racetrack, Giants Stadium and the Izod Center, all of which used to be serviced only by bus and vehicular traffic.
Unlike most of the other facilities within the complex New Jersey Transit system, the Meadowlands Station is a destination station, bringing sports fans from New York City and other Northern New Jersey points to a specific location. N.J. Transit is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system, serving more than 250,000 weekday passengers with 161 rail stations and 28 light rail stations linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
With the development of this new station, the Meadowlands Sports Complex is now in a position to serve sports fans from both New York and New Jersey, and to accommodate for future growth in the region, including nearby retail development.
The project features 7,000 square feet of Englert Series 2500 standing seam roofing material, including 6,000 square feet for the central station and another 1,000 square feet for a passenger platform canopy. The Slate Gray material is 16 inches wide. Primco Construction of Toms River, New Jersey installed the material for Advanced Roofing & Sheet Metal. ADPI of Avenel was the fabricator. “The interesting part is that the roof is actually seen as part of the façade because of its steep slope,” notes Kurt Vierheilgas, the DMR architect spearheading the project. “Most roofing systems are not this visible,” he points out.
Due to the program requirements to provide stair access to the overpass some 24 feet above grade, DMR developed the simple, single sloped roof form over each stairway that articulated and accentuated what was happening in the interior. Because of the location of the building, the sloped roofs had to be addressed carefully from a design standpoint because they are seen from all directions around the facility, not only from the ground, but also from the adjacent new Giants Stadium, only yards away.
“The selection of a standing seam metal roof was a no brainer,” notes Vierheilgas. “It was the perfect material that would complement the rest of the finishes on other parts of the façade. “The metal roofing worked well with the contemporary nature of the design,” he notes, adding “we also used composite metal panels, insulated metal wall panels, curtain wall systems and a cast stone base to anchor the building to the site.”
Other key reasons for choosing standing seam? “We also were very interested in a material that would stand up to the elements and still look good at the end of the day.”