Gillette Stadium Lighthouse

At the heart of Gillette Stadium’s $250 million renovation stands the iconic new stadium Lighthouse, featuring a 360-degree year-round observation deck offering panoramic views of the stadium, Foxborough center, and the Boston and Providence skylines. Sentech designed, engineered and supplied eight of the 6 and 8-ft tall structural glass windscreens that tower 22-stories and 218-ft high above the field. To withstand the environmental and wind loads at that height, Sentech conducted rigorous, multi-faceted engineering analysis to ensure safety, durability, and high-performance as building movement and thermal expansion posed engineering challenges. This specialized structural glass solution protects visitors from the elements while ensuring unobstructed views of one of the most legendary stadiums in the country.

Sentech’s VetraPoint System was used for the structural glass windscreens that are comprised of 1-5/8” thick low-iron tempered laminated with SGP. VetraPoint uses countersunk point-supported connections to minimize visual obstructions and eliminates traditional vertical framing and maximizes natural light- delivering clean, uninterrupted sightlines. Emphasizing transparency and minimal visual impediments, Sentech’s proprietary VetraPoint System offers unparalleled design flexibility as it allows for the utmost architectural creativity in the design process- from connection details to façade geometry and support structure options and geometries. This system can be any combination of glass fins, steel fins, cable trusses or aluminum fins. The system can be used with a wide variety of glass types, including monolithic, laminated and insulated. Fully concealed and embedded fitting options are available. This system can be used to design façade applications, overhead applications, floor/step-on applications, and blast-resistant structural glass applications.

The Gillette Stadium Lighthouse windscreen project is a testament to the innovative use of structural glass in creating a unique architectural landmark in one of the most iconic stadiums in the United States.