If you head to an event at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, you may have the chance to visit the historic J. S. Dorton Arena. This arena features 7,610 seats, and has hosted everything from sports events to musical performances to robotics competitions. But while you are here, you may find yourself as captivated by the building itself as you are by anything taking place inside it.
The History of the Dorton Arena
The J. S. Dorton Arena was designed by Polish architect Maciej Nowicki, best known for his work as the chief architect of the city of Chandigarh in India. He was sent to New York City in 1945 as a delegate, and became chair of the Faculty of Architecture at North Carolina State University. This made him a natural choice for the design of the arena.
Alas, Nowicki would not live to oversee the construction of the arena, as he died in a plane crash. William Henley Dietrick, also local to North Carolina (and a friend of Nowicki’s), took over supervision, and the building opened in 1952 as the “State Fair Arena.”
The current name, the “J. S. Dorton Arena,” was selected in 1961 as a nod to the fair’s former manager, who was the one who had commissioned the building.
The chief claim to fame of the J. S. Dorton Arena is the groundbreaking design of its roof. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it was a novel engineering feat that paved the way for similar structures in the years to follow, like the 1965 Houston Astrodome. Indeed, the modern superdome is the legacy of Nowicki’s innovative design.
The Dorton Arena’s Remarkable Cable-Supported Roof
The challenge with the Dorton Arena was to find a way to construct a covered, indoor stadium that had a completely clear-span design. There could be no columns supporting the roof, as these would obstruct the open space required for sports and other events.
This meant that an alternative to compression had to be found to support the roof. Nowicki came up with a brilliant idea, which was to use tension instead.
The distinctive saddle shape of the roof might appear to have been selected solely for its aesthetic charm, but it serves a very specific structural purpose. The shape of the structure supports the roof through tension, similar to a tent or suspension bridge.
American Scientist clearly and succinctly explains how it works:
“The roof cables pull against a pair of crossed and inclined concrete parabolic arches that are perhaps the arena’s most dominant feature. Like all arches, these work in compression, and the pull of the cables in the plane of each arch is transformed into a compressive force that flows down the legs of the arch into the ground.”
Nowicki’s Brilliance Deserves Far More Recognition
Maciej Nowicki’s genius tension design has been recognized, though mainly in niche communities. The American Society of Civil Engineers has declared the arena a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
But outside of civil engineering and architectural circles, we seldom hear the J. S. Dorton Arena discussed, nor do we hear much about Maciej Nowicki. Nevertheless, anyone who has ever been to a modern superdome has experienced the lasting impact of his design.
So, the next time you are visiting a superdome or you see one on TV, pause and think to yourself about Nowicki and the world’s first cable-supported roof, and marvel at the legacy of this mid century feat of civil engineering.
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like reading about other examples of MCM architecture in North Carolina. Check out A Modernist Masterpiece in Ashville, North Carolina and “The Wembley” in Asheville, North Carolina. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube for more Atomic Ranch articles, house tours, and ideas!
