The $2.1bn Highmark Stadium project in New York, US, has been topped out, with the placing of the final key roof module for the facility.
The topping-out ceremony was attended by New York’s state governor Kathy Holchul, American football team Buffalo Bills, Erie County officials, and more than 1,400 guests.
This progress comes 20 months after breaking ground on the new 60,000-seat facility, a collaborative design effort between the Bills, Legends, and Populous.
Currently, the project is halfway through and on track to be completed before the 2026 National Football League (NFL) season.
The highest beam of the stadium was erected at 156ft using one of the site’s cranes.
The construction team has already installed over 22,000 steel pieces, totalling more than 25,000 tons, with contributions from New York State-based fabricators.
The scope of work has included the removal of 742,000 cubic yards of dirt and the installation of more than 46,000 cubic yards of foundation concrete, along with piping.
At peak construction, up to 1,500 workers will be on-site, contributing to various tasks such as masonry, electrical, and plumbing. To date, more than 1.7 million craft hours have been dedicated to the project, a figure expected to double by its completion.
With the topping out complete, the focus shifts to the building’s interior, roof, and exterior enclosure.
Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, serving as construction managers, are now installing the canopy structure and precast materials for the building’s exoskeleton.
In the coming months, the building’s skin, including precast architectural, perforated metal, and glass panels, will be installed, offering views of Lake Erie and downtown Buffalo.
The future home of the Bills will also host other events and feature amenities such as a 360-degree canopy, heated concourses, two video boards, and an acoustic system to enhance the audiovisual experience.
Erie County executive Mark C Poloncarz said: “When you stand next to this future home of the Buffalo Bills, you realise how big this stadium is, not just in size, but in the economic impact to the community. With more than 1,000 highly paid construction workers building this stadium each day, this project is the biggest one in Erie County history and it is improving the lives of many.
“I thank my partners in Erie County government, New York governor Kathy Hochul and our local state delegation, and the Pegula and Bills families for their investment in our community, as well as our local building trades for their work in ensuring the Bills call Erie County home for the next 30 years.”
Recently, New York State launched a $61.5m pavement improvement project on the New York State Thruway, Interstate 90, covering Ontario and Monroe counties.
