Topping-out ceremonies are usually marked with the placement of a steel beam atop a structure. But last Friday, the Denver Broncos broke with the status quo, placing the final roof beam – made from black spruce cross-laminated timber – atop their brand new $175 million Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit training facility in Englewood, Colorado.
The decision to use mass timber—a lightweight material that is as strong as steel—is more than symbolic; it’s a decision that underpins the NFL franchise’s commitment to net-zero. Compared to steel and concrete, timber requires significantly less energy to produce and emits fewer greenhouse gases. Whilst the black spruce, sourced from Quebec, also reflects the rugged, natural aesthetic of Colorado that ownership sought to embody in the design.
Wood Central understands Broncos secured more than 1,219 cubic meters of timber before the imposition of Canadian tariffs earlier this year—a forward-looking procurement decision that may prove financially prudent as trade barriers continue to impact long-term construction planning. And its reduced carbon footprint, visual warmth, and growing cost competitiveness, timber is gaining traction in large-scale sports infrastructure: “It gets comparable [pricewise], and it’s probably going to give steel a run for its money in some cases, given potential tariff impacts,” said Amy Dee, the Broncos’ vice president of construction.
The new facility, designed by HOK and Rockwell Group and built by Turner Construction, is rising on the opposite side of the team’s existing training fields. Dee, who previously served as an owner’s representative on Empower Field at Mile High renovations, now oversees the project in-house. Despite ongoing construction, the Broncos are hosting training camp on-site, accommodating 800 fans daily with temporary bleachers.
Dee said the team plans to move into the new facility by May, ahead of next year’s camp, which will welcome larger crowds. Once complete, the existing headquarters—originally opened in 1990—will be demolished, marking a full transition to a modern, environmentally conscious campus that reflects both the Broncos’ legacy and their future ambitions.
Planning for the NFL powerhouses’ practice facility has been years in the works
In November 2023, Wood Central revealed that the Broncos’ new facility would be built from cross-laminated timber and stone and other natural materials as part of a “focus on sustainability, locally sourced materials and energy-efficient design strategies.” At the time, Damani Leech – President – said “the Broncos’ process of designing a new facility began a year ago,” with the project team flown around the USA to “tour the facilities of several professional sports teams — including the Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors.”
“Think about their commitment and the resources they put into the stadium and a significant expenditure into the new practice facility,” he said. “They want to be told what eminence looks like; they want us to do the work and the research to define greatness, and once we do that and we can convince them this is going to be good for the team, the staff, and the culture of the organisation, then they’ll put the resources behind it.”
- It’s fast, light, and price-competitive (compared to traditional steel-and-concrete building systems). To find out why timber-and-steel and timber-and-concrete construction systems hold the key to the next generation of high-performance sports facilities, click here for Wood Central’s special feature from August last year.
