Doors Offer Enhancements to Yankee Stadium

Any of the Yankees’ legends, including Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Roger Maris or Mickey Mantle, would be thrilled to step into the batter’s box at the new park, which underwent numerous enhancements during the months leading up to the 2017 season.

Among the retrofit improvements are five bifold lift-strap designer doors from Schweiss Doors. The largest of the custom doors measures 27 ft., 5 in. wide × 11 ft., 4 in. tall. Two more doors are 23 ft., 4 in. × 9 ft., 2 in., and two more measure 21 ft., 10 in. × 9 ft., 2 in. All five doors are fitted with electric photo eye sensors, black liftstraps, manual latches and alike-keyed opening and closing switches. Four doors are clad in a high-tech brushed aluminum to blend in with the façade whether the doors are open or closed.

One of the stadium doors performs at the AT&T Sports Lounge at the mezzanine level on the left field line. The AT&T door is clad in wood and tile on the outside and when it is closed, you can’t tell it is an operational door. Two additional concession/bar areas, with two doors each set at right angles, are located in the right-center field and left-center field areas on the Triple Zero level.

Paul Wassenbergh, senior project manager and director of interiors preconstruction for Hunter Roberts Construction Group of New York, which was awarded the off-season enhancement project, was part of the Construction Management team that procured and managed the installation of the doors. The actual installation work was performed by AJ Garage Door & Service of Oakdale, N.Y. Exterior cladding was applied to the doors by Barrett of Danbury, Conn.

“The Yankees were looking for a bifold door,” says Wassenbergh. “[Schweiss] bifold doors are heavy duty, very solid and functional. They will be a long-lasting solid piece of equipment that I don’t ever see failing. I like how easy they are to use.”