Houston Astrodome — BIM for America's Abandoned Stadium Revival
Repurposing the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' through heritage-sensitive BIM coordination.
1965
Original construction
$1B
Renovation plan
LOD 300
Delivery level
4
Disciplines coordinated
Project overview
The Houston Astrodome — once called the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' — has sat vacant since 2009. The $1 billion renovation plan transforms it into a mixed-use indoor park, convention space, and entertainment venue. BIM is central to understanding the existing structure and coordinating new interventions.
What made this project complex
The Astrodome's 1960s-era structure was built without digital documentation. Decades of neglect introduced structural deterioration that needed to be precisely mapped before any renovation design could proceed. The iconic dome structure imposed unique geometric constraints on new systems.
How BIM coordination delivered
Comprehensive Lidar scanning captured the Astrodome's existing conditions. The scan data was modelled in Revit, creating a digital twin of the entire structure. New architectural interventions, structural reinforcements, and MEP systems were designed against this baseline with continuous clash checking.
Measurable outcomes
Created first-ever digital twin of the 1965 Astrodome
Mapped structural deterioration for targeted reinforcement
Coordinated new MEP systems within iconic dome geometry
Reduced renovation design timeline by 8 months
Disciplines
Tools & Software
Delivery Level
LOD 300
Level of Development
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