Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse University received approval from the City of Syracuse Planning Commission to move forward with its planned renovation of the Carrier Dome roof on Tuesday night.

Syracuse's renovation plan calls for the roof replacement to be done by 2020, along with new sound and lighting systems, a new scoreboard and accessibility improvements. By 2022, the school plans to add air conditioning and improvements in concession and restroom spaces.

"This is just another step in the process of the roof replacement project, the process that it takes for us to get the permit for the actual replacement of the roof," Syracuse Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer Pete Sala said after the meeting. "Tonight was just Planning Commission approval."

The school will still have to work through procedural details like applying and receiving building permits, and is also still finalizing some of the finer details of the project.

Syracuse officials were not required to speak during the meeting, and the approval from the Planning Commission was unanimous and without discussion.

Sala said he is involved in weekly meetings involving the Carrier Dome, and the school is currently communicating with steel companies that are options for erecting the steel components of the roof.

"Our timing is perfect," Sala said. "There isn't a lot of stadium work being done out there so unbelievable interest in this project."

The new roof will replace the Carrier Dome's out-of-date air-supported roof with a new "tension membrane roof" that will be supported by a steel "crown-truss" structure.

A similar style has been popular in a number of modern stadiums, including the planned Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park that will host the San Diego Chargers and L.A. Rams starting in 2020. It has also been used in BC Place in Vancouver and Maracena Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Sala had said in May that Syracuse's version will have a hard surface covering the outer-third of the building, with a more translucent material covering the inner two-thirds. Back then he noted the school was exploring models made of ETFE and PTFE.

On Tuesday he said the school continues to look at different materials, and that their focus revolves around materials that will improve interior lighting and provide the school a long lifespan.

This rendering shows what the interior of the Carrier Dome could look like after Syracuse University's planned renovation.

"What we're working on right now is the different materials that will be used in the roof, still in the planning process and the construction sequencing of that process, that's where we are in the project," Sala said. "We're looking at all different types of products. We're discussing different light levels inside the facility and what best to use. We're looking for a 40 to 50-year solution so the products we're looking at need to get us to that point."

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