GPRS safety partners Gilbane and Turner Construction have officially topped out the Buffalo Bills’ new Highmark Stadium – a $2.1 billion project located in Orchard Park, New York.

GPRS safety partners Gilbane and Turner Construction recently topped out the Buffalo Bills’ $2.1 billion New Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

The topping out marks the halfway point of the joint venture, which began construction twenty months ago. According to a press release from New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s office, the stadium is on track to be completed ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

“Today marks a major milestone for the future home of the Buffalo Bills and one of the largest construction projects ever in Western New York,” Hochul said. “This world-class stadium would not be possible without our skilled union workers and partners, and I look forward to cheering along with them at the first Bills game being played here in the 2026 season.”

Hochul, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, project leaders, union members, and more than 1,400 attendees gathered for the topping out ceremony, where the final steel beam was placed on the future 60,000-seat home of the Buffalo Bills. The stadium, designed by Kansas City-based architecture firm Populous, is being built next to the team’s current facility.

According to the press release, crews have completed major early-phase work, including removing 742,000 cubic yards of soil, placing over 46,000 cubic yards of foundation concrete, and installing miles of underground piping. At peak construction, up to 1,500 workers are expected on site.

The focus is now shifting to interior construction and roof assembly. The Gilbane/Turner joint venture is currently building a 360-degree canopy at the stadium’s top level, which will rise to 116 feet above ground. At the same time, the team is setting precast elements to form the stadium’s exterior structure in preparation for the spring installation of architectural panels, perforated metal, and glass components.

Once complete, New Highmark Stadium will also include:

• Heated concourses and seating in several areas
• The world’s largest snow melt system, which will utilize roof sensors to monitor and liquefy snow piles
• Two video boards and an acoustic system
• A mix of concessions, kitchens and retail stores

“We’re incredibly proud to reach this major milestone in the construction of the new Highmark Stadium,” said Gilbane Principal-in-Charge John LaRow. “This achievement is testament to the hard work of our skilled trade partners who have worked over 1.8 million hours to date building this state-of-the-art facility. Thanks to the incredible collaboration with the Buffalo Bills, the Gilbane | Turner team, Populous, Legends and the support of the State of New York and Erie County, this stadium will serve as a proud beacon for the region and showcase the very best in professional sports venues.”

Gilbane/Turner Program Director Joe Byrne said the topping out milestone, “marks more than the structural progress of a stadium.”

“It reflects the spirit and strength of the Buffalo community,” Byrne said. “We are deeply grateful to the Buffalo Bills, our dedicated staff and trade partners and the thousands of union tradespeople – so many of whom call this region home – whose skill and commitment are bringing this landmark project to life. It is profoundly meaningful that members of the community are helping to build a venue that will serve as a source of pride and celebration for generations to come.”

“This topping out milestone at New Highmark Stadium stands as a testament to the positive impacts development done under project labor agreements and with prevailing wage measures can have on our local communities and collective state economy,” added New York State Building and Construction Trades Council President, Gary LaBarbera. “The construction of this new home for The Buffalo Bills is generating thousands of family-sustaining careers, adding economic stimulus to our neighborhood, and providing hard-working people in the Western New York region accessible pathways to the middle class. We thank Governor Hochul for her efforts in pushing this project forward and look forward to continuing our role in creating a world-class venue for Buffalo football fans and players alike.”

Whether you’re building a 60,000-seat football stadium or renovating an office building, GPRS supports your construction projects through our comprehensive suite of subsurface damage prevention, existing conditions documentation, and construction & facilities project management services. We offer precision concrete scanning and utility locating, pinpoint-accurate leak detection, NASSCO-certified sewer line inspections, 2-4mm accurate 3D laser scanning, and in-house mapping & modeling tailored to your project’s specific needs.

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