Insights from the 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference: Designing for Outdoor Thermal Comfort
Key takeaways from RWDI's ASHRAE 2026 presentation on designing cooler, more comfortable, and climate-resilient outdoor spaces.
Sector: Stadiums & Sports
Maximizing Stadium Performance and Fan Experience
The stadium performance home run
We understand that every stadium has a story to tell—one of passion, performance, and unforgettable experiences. Our mission is to help you bring that story to life. By addressing the unique challenges of your venue, from environmental conditions to crowd dynamics, we provide tailored engineering solutions that enhance safety and optimize performance. Imagine a space where athletes excel, fans are fully engaged, and every event is unforgettable. Together, we can create a stadium that not only hosts events but also becomes a cherished landmark in your community.
Addressing stadiums & sports challenges
Stadium projects face many challenges from balancing functionality with architectural appeal, to accommodating a variety of events from sports to concerts. Stadium designers must also consider fan experience, including managing crowds, safety, and sustainable practices while optimizing acoustics, seating arrangements, and sightlines. Designing with environmental considerations, such as minimizing energy consumption and integrating the stadium into the surrounding landscape, adds another layer of complexity. With the right tools, stadiums can become not only iconic landmarks for their cities, but also create a world-class fan experience.
The right insights at the right time
From design to daily operations, we have the right experience and expertise to solve any stadium project challenge. Explore services for every stage of the stadium lifecycle.
Services
- Environmental air quality, water, soil, waste
- Pedestrian wind, thermal comfort & safety
- Noise & vibration
- Energy, sustainability & wellness goals
Services
- Pedestrian wind, thermal comfort & safety
- Acoustics, noise & vibration
- Energy, sustainability & wellness, modeling and certification
- Solar effects (sun, shadow, glare, reflection, views, daylighting, field of play grass health)
- Snow, ice, rain, sand (loading or management)
- Enclosures
- Structural, cladding, paver & furniture wind
- Aeroacoustics
- Exhaust dispersion
- Stack effect, door pressures & operability
- Smoke & internal ventilation
- Commissioning (enclosure and MEP)
- Aeroelastic
- Performance venue design
Services
- Air, water, soil or waste quality monitoring
- Construction stage wind loading
- Enclosure commissioning
- MEP commissioning
- Noise & vibration monitoring
- Weather forecasting
- Wind-blown dust management
Services
- Air quality monitoring
- Decarbonization consulting
- Energy & water modeling
- GHG emission inventories
- HVAC performance verification
- Re-, retro-, or continuous commissioning
- Noise & vibration monitoring
- Operational sustainability certifications
Services
- Environmental (air quality, water, soil, waste)
- Pedestrian wind, comfort & safety (urban heat island, pedestrian ventilation, natural ventilation)
- Noise, acoustics & vibration
- Energy, sustainability & wellness, modeling and certification
- Solar effects (sun, shadow, glare, reflection, views, daylighting)
- Snow, ice, rain, sand (loading or management)
- Enclosures
- Structural, cladding, paver & furniture wind
- Exhaust dispersion wind
- Stack effect, door pressures & operability
- Smoke & internal ventilation
- Commissioning (enclosure and MEP)
Services
- Environmental air quality, water, soil, waste
- Pedestrian wind, thermal comfort & safety
- Noise & vibration
- Energy, sustainability & wellness goals
Services
- Pedestrian wind, thermal comfort & safety
- Acoustics, noise & vibration
- Energy, sustainability & wellness, modeling and certification
- Solar effects (sun, shadow, glare, reflection, views, daylighting, field of play grass health)
- Snow, ice, rain, sand (loading or management)
- Enclosures
- Structural, cladding, paver & furniture wind
- Aeroacoustics
- Exhaust dispersion
- Stack effect, door pressures & operability
- Smoke & internal ventilation
- Commissioning (enclosure and MEP)
- Aeroelastic
- Performance venue design
Services
- Air, water, soil or waste quality monitoring
- Construction stage wind loading
- Enclosure commissioning
- MEP commissioning
- Noise & vibration monitoring
- Weather forecasting
- Wind-blown dust management
Services
- Air quality monitoring
- Decarbonization consulting
- Energy & water modeling
- GHG emission inventories
- HVAC performance verification
- Re-, retro-, or continuous commissioning
- Noise & vibration monitoring
- Operational sustainability certifications
Services
- Environmental (air quality, water, soil, waste)
- Pedestrian wind, comfort & safety (urban heat island, pedestrian ventilation, natural ventilation)
- Noise, acoustics & vibration
- Energy, sustainability & wellness, modeling and certification
- Solar effects (sun, shadow, glare, reflection, views, daylighting)
- Snow, ice, rain, sand (loading or management)
- Enclosures
- Structural, cladding, paver & furniture wind
- Exhaust dispersion wind
- Stack effect, door pressures & operability
- Smoke & internal ventilation
- Commissioning (enclosure and MEP)
truist-park-atlanta-braves-ballpark
United States
Truist Park
Optimizing fan comfort and minimizing construction costs for an open-air stadium
How we help
We collaborate and support your vision with technical expertise across every climate and performance engineering discipline. Create more welcoming stadiums that exist in harmony with their environment and community.
With precision data from our Climate Labs, you will understand how everything from sightlines and acoustics to comfort will be experienced from every seat. Elevate the fan experience by designing stadiums that create a comfortable and engaging environment for all, right down to the finest details.
We give you advanced performance metrics helping you achieve the highest operational standards. By analyzing critical factors such as air quality, noise, and vibration, you will have the confidence that your design will operate at peak efficiency and with maximum structural performance. Create exceptional experiences for fans and athletes while meeting all regulatory requirements.
There’s no greater threat to a successful event than safety risks. That is why safety is paramount in our approach to stadium design and operation. We conduct thorough risk assessments to identify potential hazards related to air quality, crowd management, and structural integrity.
We understand one of the most crucial aspects of any stadium design project is cost management. We leverage early-stage analysis and optimization to minimize both construction and operational expenses. Our accurate predictions of environmental impacts and structural performance allow our clients to avoid costly modifications later in the project lifecycle, leading to substantial cost savings and improved financial viability for their stadium project.
Navigating regulatory requirements for stadium projects can be complex, but we simplify this process. Our expertise in environmental compliance ensures that all sports facilities meet local and international standards. By ensuring compliance, you will not only safeguard against legal vulnerabilities, but also enhance your stadium’s reputation within the community, attracting more fans and events.
Holistic engineering solutions
Stadium design challenges are complex. Our holistic suite of services offers climate responsive design and human-centric solutions that maximize performance while minimizing impact.
Balance occupant experience while minimizing risk & cost
At RWDI, we understand the delicate balance between creating an unforgettable fan experience and managing costs and risks in sports venue design. Our expertise in wind engineering, microclimate analysis, and structural performance allows us to optimize your stadium’s design for comfort and safety while minimizing construction and operational expenses. We help you create venues that keep fans, athletes, and performers comfortable in all weather conditions, ensuring that your investment delivers both spectacular experiences and long-term financial sustainability.
Architect-driven requirements
We are the go-to partner for architects and design teams looking to push the boundaries of stadium design. Our specialized knowledge in areas like aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and aeroelastics, and environmental performance fills crucial gaps in traditional design processes. By integrating our niche services early in the planning stages, you will be able to make informed decisions that enhance the overall performance of your venue while avoiding costly redesigns later in the project.
Enhance the performance of unique design features
When it comes to innovative stadium features, we’re your trusted ally in turning ambitious concepts into reality. Our advanced modeling and testing capabilities allow us to assess and optimize the performance of unique design elements, from retractable roofs to cutting-edge ventilation systems. We help you mitigate risks associated with novel designs while enhancing their functionality, ensuring that your stadium not only stands out visually but also performs exceptionally in terms of comfort, safety, and efficiency.
One consultant to do it all
As a comprehensive sports venue consultant, we offer you the convenience of accessing a wide range of specialized services under one roof. From initial feasibility studies to post-construction performance verification, our team provides seamless support throughout your project’s lifecycle. By choosing RWDI, you benefit from our holistic approach to stadium design, which integrates various technical aspects to create cohesive, high-performing venues that exceed expectations and set new standards in the industry.
Top 5 related services
View all services
FAQs about our stadium and sports venue services
Still have questions? Contact us.
Yes. We provide specialized engineering guidance for retractable roof systems, helping teams evaluate aerodynamic performance, thermal conditions, and operational impacts in all roof positions. Our analysis supports year-round usability, optimizing fan comfort, athlete performance, and structural safety in every climate.
Wind tunnel testing and advanced simulation tools can be used to analyze airflow patterns, wind loads, and turbulence across the venue. We help optimize roof geometry, façade performance, and spectator comfort by controlling wind exposure in key areas—such as seating bowls, concourses, and entrances—while protecting structural integrity.
We support LEED, WELL, BREEAM, and other certification goals with a comprehensive approach to sustainability—addressing energy, water, air quality, waste, and occupant comfort. We help stadiums and arenas reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions through envelope optimization, natural ventilation strategies, renewable energy modeling, and climate-responsive design. Our team helps integrate these strategies from design through operations to maximize performance and long-term value.
Distance depends not just on the batter—but on the stadium’s environmental conditions. We analyze wind, temperature, pressure, and humidity to understand how the microclimate influences ball flight. This insight supports fair play, accurate performance metrics, and even venue design optimization.
We work closely with design teams to enhance comfort, safety, and engagement throughout the venue. Our services include wind and microclimate analysis, thermal comfort modeling, and acoustical design—ensuring that spectators experience clear sound, pleasant conditions, and great sightlines in both indoor and open-air environments.
Yes, we design acoustic environments that enhance crowd energy while maintaining clarity for announcements, music, and performances. From bowl shaping to sound reflection control, we ensure that venues deliver a powerful and intelligible audio experience, whether during a championship game or a sold-out concert.
Using microclimate modeling and thermal comfort analysis, we assess temperature, humidity, solar exposure, and airflow across the venue. We provide strategies—such as shading, passive cooling, and ventilation optimization—to ensure comfort in seating areas, player zones, and hospitality spaces, even in extreme climates.
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