What Is a Sliding Sky Dome?

Structural Design Requirements

• The structural design of a stadium with movable roof panels places many unique and complicated demands on the building's construction. In an enclosed building, the roof system is an integral part of the building's structural integrity. The roof system holds the walls together, and completes the building's framework, for a building with a movable roof panel, the building must be constructed like a cylinder, with additional load borne by the walls. A structural steel halo is built around the opening. The building must also be designed to support the weight of the roof panels as they move across the structure.

Function and Benefits

• Functionally, moving sky panels allow buildings to increase their usefulness while diminishing operating costs. Moving sky panels can be opened when the weather considerations are favorable, and closed when not. Therefore scheduled stadium events operate regardless of the weather. The stadium roof panels are moved to protect the athletes from suns rays which can interfere with their performance. Moveable sky dome panels are retracted when exterior environmental conditions are favorable to augment the interior temperatures of the building. Therefore owners gain the ability to cut their HVAC environmental control costs. A final advantage of the open roof stadium is the ability of the stadium owner to easily maintain natural grass on the infield / playing field.

Athletic Stadiums

• The Skydome in Toronto was the first stadium constructed with a moveable roof panel. Since that building's construction in 1989, moveable roof panels have become a frequent option on new stadiums. The Arizona Cardinal stadium has central, movable roof panels, as does Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX and the University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale AZ.

Cruise Ships

• Carnival cruise ships are the latest indoor facilities to integrate movable roof panels into their designs. While technically an outdoor venue, cruise ships create an indoor environment due to their size. A cruise ship is a functional floating city, with all the facilities, utilities and features that residents would find in a small town. The sliding sky dome is located on the upper decks over one of the pools on the Victory and Triumph cruise ship. Passengers can enjoy the sunlight on cloudless days and still enjoy the pool under a protective roof when encountering inclement weather