Major League Soccer is back in Miami after a nearly two-decade long hiatus. However, after years of delays for the planned stadium near Miami International Airport, the 2020 debut of Inter Miami CF was in jeopardy, as the team searched for a temporary home. Inter Miami CF set their sights on the old Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale with the need for a complex that could be quickly built but still serve as an inviting home base for fans.

The new, 18,000-seat AutoNation DRV PNK stadium is decked out in 40,000-square-feet of BENCHMARK Designwall 4000 insulated metal panels in the team’s signature black and pink colors, a custom order to get Miami CF’s first home season off on the right foot. By incorporating the team’s branding, DRV PNK Stadium is already a standout in South Florida.

Designwall 4000 insulated metal panels are most often used in large-scale projects. Compared to traditional wall assemblies, the metal wall panels require fewer trades onsite to install. This helped to reduce scheduling issues, allowing the stadium to be completed in just ten months. Insulated metal panels were a critical reason DRV PNK Stadium met its construction deadlines and was ready to welcome fans.

With QuadCore® closed cell insulation core providing R-values of up to 8.0 per inch, Kingspan’s insulated metal panels also boast superior thermal and fire protection. QuadCore® stands up to South Florida’s heat and humidity, improving energy efficiency. The Designwall 4000 panels also provide the team and fans with safe facilities, as they are GREENGUARD Gold certified and earn a Red List Free classification. According to a KieranTimberlake study of different commercial and industrial building wall assemblies, they can also reduce embodied carbon by up to 28%, compared to tilt-up concrete, a win for everyone.

Insulated metal panels are ideal for sports venues and stadiums by meeting the demand for lower environmental impacts, while improving speed-of-build and allowing for creative design.

Among the most notable projects, the Daytona International Speedway – home to NASCAR’s Daytona 500 – employed Kingspan in 2013 for the Daytona Rising renovation project. Optimo® and Designwall 2000 insulated metal panels provided an eye-catching façade for the large-scale project, while bringing thermal efficiency to the air-conditioned injectors. Insulated metal panels helped to achieve the International Speedway Corporation’s goals to improve energy efficiency, while lowering the speedway’s environmental impact.

Kingspan scored big with another MLS facility – Exploria Stadium – Orlando City Soccer’s home base. Insulated metal panels were tapped to create an impressive, branded exterior while also shielding the indoor facilities from Florida’s heat and humidity. Designwall 4000 panels provided light structural loads for exterior cladding, as part of the design.

For Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario, there was a goal to build a new stadium for both FIFA and the Canadian Football League. Kingspan’s KS Micro-Rib panels helped the new facility achieve LEED Silver Certification, exceeding government sustainability requirements.

Insulated metal panels can help the home team show off their spirit with creative design and quick assembly, while providing for a sustainable future.