Scoring in SoCal
Langan Helps Overcome Natural Challenges from Below and Above to Build the Home of LA’s Newest Sports Team
“It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours.”
That line from a 1970s dirge took on real meaning during the design and construction of Banc of California Stadium. The new 22,000-seat venue, home to Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC), located in Exposition Park was completed ahead of schedule in 2018 despite record rainfall from winter storms threatening to delay opening day.
Langan served as the geotechnical engineer of record, working closely with the design and construction team consisting of PCL, Gensler, Thornton Tomasetti, and Legends Project Development. The $250 million project presented significant challenges under normal circumstances, but unexpected, sustained rain changed the game plan and called for some practical ingenuity.
During excavation the so-called stadium bowl served as a prime work area, but was also an open cut where water wanted to flood. Langan recommended temporary excavations to allow for some slope erosion with run off, and worked with the contractor to develop specifications for crushing concrete from the former Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena at the site to allow its use as temporary subgrade stabilization/protection. In addition, as foundations were excavated, Langan observed and confirmed subgrades on a daily basis so that the bottom could be protected by a thin layer of concrete before rain softened the ground. These solutions provided immeasurable savings and kept the project on track.
“As a long-time Southern California resident and huge futbol fan, it was a thrill for Langan to be part of the team that completed the home of my new favorite futbol team,” said Enrique Riotort, Senior Project Manager, Langan. “We look forward to supporting additional projects in the vicinity of Exposition Park, as we have critical knowledge of the subsurface conditions, and unique experience in maintaining schedule even when Mother Nature makes things difficult.”
Clearly, LA is a city big enough for multiple franchises across several sports. Its density coupled with the size of Southern California in general has become a growth market for Langan, which now has three offices in the region: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Irvine. Through a combination of key hires and relocations from other offices, local and national clients ranging from real estate development, energy, entertainment, and aviation are recognizing how Langan raises the bar with respect to technical excellence and responsiveness.
