Little Caesars Detroit Red Wings Arena

Located in The District Detroit, Little Caesars Arena is home to the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons, and also hosts many other sports, entertainment, and community events. The $862 million arena began construction in April 2015 and opened in September 2017. Designed by HOK Engineering, the arena features a deconstructed layout and a unique, glass-roofed concourse between the surrounding buildings and the arena itself.

Throughout Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, HOK Engineering and 360 Architecture have used hot-dip galvanized steel wherever corrosion protection is required in stadiums and arenas, particularly in areas where future repainting and/or maintenance would be difficult. In this project, the exterior structural steel, including the window lintels, tubular trusses, plate girders and support steel for the panels, signs, and walkways, as well as railings and support beams for the parking garage, were all hot-dip galvanized for corrosion protection. However, corrosion protection is not the only benefit that keeps hot-dip galvanized steel on their radar.

The combination of the durability and longevity of hot-dip galvanizing also provides the Little Caesars Arena with sustainability both environmentally and economically. The long-lasting, maintenance free protection of hot-dip galvanized steel means less natural resources are consumed, and just as important, less money is spent over the life of the project. For a city with storied and proud sports teams, it only makes sense that the new arena housing two of them turns to a consistent, proven material hot-dip galvanized steel.

The only bad part of this project is we will not be able to drive by and see all of the work galvanized over the last two years. The GC's reported the galvanized steel arrived in great condition and very easy to fit up at any height. The Galvanized skeletal Steel Supports before being hidden with the brick and mortar it will help to protect.

There will be no corrosion seeping out of the concrete façade regardless of what the future Michigan winters has in store, thanks to the Galvanized Steel framework.