Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse University's application to the City of Syracuse's Planning Commission to renovate the Carrier Dome's roof included detailed drawings of the proposed project, including a view of the roof from all four directions.

The application and drawings, provided by the city on Tuesday, show more detail about how a new "tension membrane roof" will be supported by a steel "crown-truss" structure, replacing the familiar domed shape on the building. At least a portion of the new support structure will be visible on the outside of the Carrier Dome.

According to diagrams, the proposed roof will increase the maximum height of the building by 29 feet, from around 159 feet to 188 feet. It will increase the average height of the roof across the building by just over 6 feet. The application indicates that the new roof won't impact the other dimensions of the building.

Tension membrane roofs have become popular in recent years and have been used in a number of recent stadium projects around the world.

The Maracena Stadium in Rio de Janeiro that hosted the 2014 World Cup final used a tension membrane roof and utilized a material called PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), as did Vancouver's BC Place. Like the Carrier Dome, BC Place elected to replace an air-supported dome with a more modern roof system in 2011.

The BC Place version was far more expensive than Syracuse's will be, in part because it was made retractable. Some media reports have called it a marvel, while others have detailed issues with repeated leaks.

Florida State uses a tension-membrane system and PTFE to create a canopy for sections of fans at Doak Walker Stadium.

The planned Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park that will host the San Diego Chargers and L.A. Rams starting in 2020 will use a tension-membrane roof with ETFE, a slightly clearer material than PTFE.

During his last public update in May, Syracuse Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer Pete Sala said Syracuse was exploring a model utilizing PTFE-fiberglass mesh because the school believed it would hold up better against Syracuse's weather. He said that material would allow 45 percent light transmission and increase natural light inside the Carrier Dome.

At the time no final decisions had been made about the roof design.

Along with a new roof for 2020, Syracuse currently plans to have new sound and lighting systems, a new scoreboard and accessibility improvements. By Fall of 2022, the university also expects to have added air conditioning, along with improved restrooms and concession spaces.

Carrier Dome roof replacement application by The Post-Standard on Scribd

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