Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

Reliant Stadium was constructed to replace the 1965, Houston Astrodome. This new stadium is nearly 90 m wider and over 18 m taller than its predecessor. It boasts a retractable roof containing two bi-parting panels that open to each side from the center 50-yard line. Five trichord trusses support each roof panel. When retracted to the fully open position, the roof opening is 107 m. The roof is powered and designed to open and close in as little as ten minutes. Each roof panel is covered with transparent teflon-coated fiberglass fabric stretched with cables between each trichord truss. Each retractable trichord truss spans 117 m and is supported on a single 152 mm tall rail sitting on top of a giant supertruss. The structure was completed in August 2002 at a cost of 450 USD millions.