IDC Architects

The University of Oregon Hayward Field is one of the most renowned venues within the international track community and has won the bid to host the 2008 US Olympic Track and Field Trials. However, Hayward Field is notorious for an incessant north wind that alters race strategies and spoils record-setting events. Screening this wind is crucial to staging successful Olympic trials and allowing athletes the opportunity to perform at their best.

In preparation for the trials, Nike asked IDC Architects to provide quantifiable design solutions to screen the wind. Using Computational Airflow Dynamics (CFD) in an iterative design process with architects and engineers, we developed solutions that reduced wind speeds by 50%. After an initial period of analysis to establish performance design criteria, we determined that an array of 11 screens, 30 feet wide, 70 feet tall, spaced 30 feet apart along the north end of the field provided the best results.

Our solutions considered the impact of the screens within the historic University of Oregon campus, including design issues like scale, materiality, and aesthetics. Each screen rotates independently for ultimate control in fine tuning the track. This unique concept supports the University's goal of returning Hayward Field to its former prominent position as a high-performance running venue.