When the Pontiac Silverdome opened for the 1975 Detroit Lions season, it marked the biggest domed stadium in North America at the time. It also marked one of the largest projects for Barton Malow at this point in the enterprise’s history – and following its on-time and on-budget completion, cemented Barton Malow’s status in the sports construction market.
In this episode of Said Differently, we revisit the Pontiac Silverdome project which changed both sports construction and Barton Malow. From the use of the Construction Management delivery method, which helped the team quickly adapt to challenges, to the first-of-its-kind 12-acre inflatable fabric roof, the Silverdome was lauded as an engineering marvel of its time.
Chief Community Officer Ben Maibach III, a Vice President at the time of the Silverdome’s construction, joins the podcast to discuss the project. Also included is archival audio from then-Barton Malow President Rollie Wilkening and then-Chairman of the Board Ben Maibach Jr.
Visit the Said Differently page for more information on the podcast and to listen to previous episodes.