Parabolic

Dorton Arena
Dorton Arena
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Buildings Era: 1950-1959 DateCreated: 1952 4800-5162 Hillsborough St. Raleigh State: NC Zip: 27606 Country: USA Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Dorton-Arena/ Creator: Nowicki, Matthew , Dietrick, William Henley

The Dorton Arena was the first use of a cable-supported roof system in the world. Commissioned in 1949 by North Carolina State Fair manager J.S. Dorton, the new building was intended to be a livestock judging pavilion. Architect Matthew Nowicki (1910 - 1950) proposed a structure that included a pair of intersecting parabolic arches supported by slender columns around its perimeter with a network of wire cables that supported the saddle-shaped roof.

YearAdded:
2002
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Justin Doub (CC BY 2.0) Image Caption: Dorton Arena Era_date_from: 1952
Subscribe to Parabolic
Dorton Arena

Dorton Arena

The Dorton Arena was the first use of a cable-supported roof system in the world. Commissioned in 1949 by North Carolina State Fair manager J.S. Dorton, the new building was intended to be a livestock judging pavilion. Architect Matthew Nowicki (1910 - 1950) proposed a structure that…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support this 70-year tradition of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to American Heritage.

Donate

Help us save
Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.