Photo by Matt Wargo

PHILADELPHIA — Pennoni Associates, an award-winning consulting engineering and design firm headquartered in Philadelphia, announced that the structural engineering design work completed for PPL Park has received an Outstanding Project of the Year award by the Delaware Valley Association of Structural Engineers (DVASE). PPL Park is home to Major League Soccer’s newest expansion team, the Philadelphia Union. This is the second year in a row that a Pennoni project has won a DVASE award, having been recognized previously for structural design work on the 101 Walnut Street Condominiums.

The award was presented May 17 at the 2011 DVASE Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards presentation at Top of the Tower in Philadelphia. Pennoni provided the structural design for PPL Park, including the prominent sideline canopies that cantilever 75 feet toward the pitch. These canopies utilize tensile fabric, making the park the first Philadelphia sports arena to incorporate this material for the protection of its spectators. The overall design of the stadium was a culmination of the close working relationship between the parties involved, including architect Rossetti, consultant Weidlinger Associates, and owner Keystone Sports & Entertainment. The result was a stadium that is both visually stunning and cutting edge.

Founded in 1991, DVASE is a non-profit membership organization, serving structural engineers from southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and southern New Jersey. DVASE conducts technical and business seminars related to structural engineering, organizes volunteer programs, conducts design competitions in preparation for the national design competition, and gives structural engineers in the region an opportunity to meet other structural engineers.