Gesling Stadium

The central staircase is the architectural heart of the structure. It does not serve as the main entrance; rather, it acts as a spine, dividing the seating in half. Above the steps sits the press box, which stands slightly proud of the wall line. Its windows are divided into a grid of dark rectangles, and the name Carnegie Mellon is set in simple lettering above the glass.

On the field, the surface is a synthetic green, marked with white lines that contrast sharply with the red track running around the perimeter. The red turf extends into the end zones, creating a block of colour that is visible from the stands. The floodlights are mounted on tall, slender metal poles that sit just behind the wall, pointing inward.

The ground is used by the Carnegie Mellon Tartans football team, though it also hosts track and field events. The presence of the running track separates the pitch from the seating in a way that is less common in European football grounds. It is a space designed for multiple sports, but the football matches seem to command the attention. The capacity is modest, which means the spectators are close to the action, a fact that compensates for the lack of a sprawling urban backdrop.