Waterproof Expansion Joints at Gillette Stadium: Two Decades of Reliable Performance
Massachusetts
Date: 2002, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Seating bowl with SJS expansion joint system on treads and risers. Lighthouse Landing in background.
Waterproof expansion joints have been a critical part of Gillette Stadium’s infrastructure since its construction began in 2001 and it opened in 2002. Home to the New England Patriots and New England Revolution, the stadium has stood as a landmark of durable, innovative construction and long-term performance. Just as the teams it hosts must perform under pressure, the building envelope of this 65,000-seat stadium endures constant structural movement, exposure to the elements, and the wear of millions of visitors each year.
For more than two decades, Sika Emseal waterproof expansion joint systems have played a vital role in preserving the stadium’s watertightness, safety, and functionality.
Collaborative Approach to Expansion Joint Design and Stadium Waterproofing
As part of our commitment to collaboration, we worked alongside industry-leading partners to ensure the success of Gillette Stadium’s expansion and retrofit projects. Henry M. Luke provided expert installation for all retrofit expansion joints throughout the stadium. The Waterproofing Company contributed their specialized expertise during the North End Zone and Lighthouse expansions. Populous, the architectural firm behind both the original design and major expansions, brought visionary planning to the project. And Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) offered critical consulting services during the end zone and lighthouse upgrades.
Waterproof Stadium Expansion Joint Design
Gillette Stadium replaced the Patriots’ former home, Foxboro Stadium. Designed to accommodate large-scale events in all weather conditions, the structure required comprehensive solutions for thermal movement, seismic activity, and long-term waterproofing.
The stadium’s exposed location made it imperative to use expansion joint systems capable of performing in both extreme cold and heat, withstanding freeze-thaw cycles, and maintaining watertight integrity under high foot traffic and dynamic structural loads.
From the start, Sika Emseal’s precompressed, silicone-coated foam expansion joint technology was selected for its proven ability to provide watertight, flexible, and low-maintenance sealing across multiple joint conditions. Over the years, as the stadium evolved with renovations, upgrades, and the addition of Patriot Place, the North End Zone Expansion, and Lighthouse Landing, Sika Emseal’s systems continued to be specified and installed as part of ongoing facility improvements and retrofits.
Challenges in Stadium Renovation and Expansion Joint Performance
Like most large public venues, Gillette Stadium faces several key challenges when it comes to waterproof expansion joint performance:
- Exposure to the elements: The stadium’s open-air design exposes joints on concourses, stairs, and seating decks to rain, snow, and temperature fluctuations.
- High traffic loads: Tens of thousands of fans and event attendees subject pedestrian and vehicular joint locations to constant stress.
- High point loading: In addition to pedestrian and vehicular traffic, concourses and service areas experience concentrated loads from mechanical equipment, forklifts, and other service vehicles, requiring expansion joint systems that can withstand extreme point loading without compromising watertightness or structural integrity.
- Maintenance access: Expansion joints are located in highly visible, difficult-to-access areas where failures can lead to leaks, corrosion, and safety hazards.
- Longevity expectations: Stadium operators require materials that provide decades of service with minimal maintenance, reducing total cost of ownership over time.
Products and Systems Installed for Gillette Stadium Upgrades
Over the years, a variety of Sika Emseal and Wabo® systems have been installed at Gillette Stadium and surrounding Patriot Place developments. Each system was selected for specific performance needs, from pedestrian areas to structural seismic joints, all contributing to comprehensive stadium waterproofing.
Seismic Colorseal | Wall Expansion Joint
Used throughout the vertical expansion joints of Gillette Stadium, Seismic Colorseal is a silicone-coated, precompressed primary seal designed for high-movement wall joints. It provides watertightness in vertical-plane structural, seismic, and abutment joints across a variety of substrates.
Advantages:
- Continuous seal through changes in plane and direction
- Built-in thermal insulation and acoustic dampening
- Long-term UV resistance and color stability
Seismic Colorseal’s flexibility allows it to move with the structure while maintaining a consistent watertight seal, ideal for the architectural transitions and façade joints found throughout the stadium’s bowl and exterior walls.
DSM System | Watertight Trafficable Deck Expansion Joint
The DSM System serves as a watertight, traffic-durable expansion joint for horizontal deck applications such as the concourses and entryways. The system consists of a precompressed, silicone-and-impregnated-foam hybrid that adheres to joint faces and provides a resilient, long-lasting seal.
Advantages:
- Custom factory-fabricated expansion joint transitions throughout the stadium and seating bowl
- Withstands pedestrian and light vehicular traffic
- Joint-face adhered, no invasive anchoring required
- Durable and flexible across broad temperature ranges
As part of Gillette’s ongoing maintenance and retrofit efforts, the DSM System has been used to replace older, failing seal systems, restoring watertight integrity while minimizing disruption to operations. The custom-engineered tread & riser solutions offer factory-fabricated watertight solutions for streamlined and reliable installations.
Emshield WFR2 (Wall, Fire-Rated 2-Hour)
Where fire protection was required, Emshield WFR2 provided a watertight, fire-rated, dual-sided primary seal for vertical-plane joints. The UL-certified system combines Sika Emseal’s precompressed foam technology with factory-applied intumescent materials, delivering both waterproofing and two-hour fire protection in a single install.
Applications at Gillette Stadium include:
- Head-of-wall transitions
- Vertical expansion joints in conditioned spaces
- Areas requiring continuity of fire and moisture protection
Emshield DFR2 (Deck, Fire-Rated 2-Hour)
For horizontal-plane applications, Emshield DFR2 extends the same watertight and fire-rated benefits as WFR2 to the decks and floors of the stadium. Designed for repair, retrofit, and new installation, DFR2 provides a traffic-durable, UL-certified 2-hour fire barrier ideal for concourse levels and service areas where watertightness and fire performance are both critical.
SJS System
The SJS System is a watertight, trafficable seismic expansion joint featuring a cover plate anchored into a central spline embedded within the precompressed foam rather than being rigidly attached to the concrete deck. Comprised of a silicone-and-impregnated-foam hybrid, SJS absorbs sound, dampens vibration, and provides a safe, uniform transition across deck joints.
Advantages:
- 100% movement capability
- Non-invasive anchoring
- Sound-dampened, traffic-friendly surface
In stadium concourses and seating areas, the SJS System provides both functionality and comfort, mitigating trip hazards and rattling plates even under heavy pedestrian use. A recessed SJS system on the concourse provides a “no-bump” trafficable surface for high point loading.
Waterproof expansion joint system SJS blends into treads and risers.
SJS coverplate protects joints and gives a clean look on treads and risers.
SJS transitioning from stadium seating to concourse level.
Seating bowl with SJS. Lighthouse Landing in background.
SJS-FR Systems (Fire-Rated, 1-Hour and 2-Hour)
The SJS-FR1 and SJS-FR2 systems combine all the benefits of SJS with UL-certified fire ratings of one or two hours. For Gillette Stadium, these systems offered an all-in-one solution: fire-rated, watertight, traffic-bearing, quiet, and maintenance-friendly.
The “One Install Does It All” design significantly reduces installation time and complexity, ideal for retrofit work on live stadium environments where downtime must be minimized.
Horizontal Colorseal
In non-traffic horizontal joints such as parapets, seating decks, and transition details, Horizontal Colorseal offers continuous watertightness. The system pairs a factory-applied and cured silicone bellows with a hydrophobic-acrylic-impregnated expanding foam sealant backing, providing movement-capable, reliable waterproofing for exposed horizontal surfaces.
SJS-FP (Split-Slab Plaza Deck System)
For wide expansion joints in hardscaped decks, such as the plazas and entry areas surrounding the stadium, SJS-FP provides a watertight, trafficable system designed specifically for split-slab deck designs. This allows Gillette Stadium to maintain waterproof integrity between structural and topping slabs while accommodating structural movement for pedestrian, vehicular, and service equipment traffic.
Wabo®FastFloor (FJF, FJS)
As part of Sika’s expanded line of Wabo® Commercial products, Wabo®FastFloor system was selected for interior floor expansion joints. These blockout-free systems provide durable and flexible movement accommodation without the need for complex subassemblies, simplifying installation and long-term maintenance.
Wabo®SafetyFlex (Hinged Coverplate Expansion Joint)
In pedestrian and parking areas, Wabo®SafetyFlex hinged cover plates offer both performance and dynamic deflection. Load-bearing independent metal plates accommodate thermal and seismic movement while providing a smooth, secure walking surface perfect for public access points and parking structures at Patriot Place.
Because Sika Emseal products are joint-face adhered and near tensionless, they eliminate the mechanical wear and recurring maintenance associated with traditional compression seals or metal gland systems. The result is the lowest total cost of ownership over the life of the facility – an essential metric for large-scale, publicly used venues like Gillette.
Retrofit Solutions for Long-Term Waterproof Expansion Joints
Over the past 20+ years, Sika Emseal products have been installed both during initial construction and in subsequent retrofit projects as older seals reached the end of their service life. Thanks to the company’s hybrid precompressed joint systems, these retrofits were performed efficiently, often without the need for major demolition or disruption to surrounding structures.
The precompressed, self-expanding design of Sika Emseal’s systems enables installers to achieve a consistent, watertight seal even on irregular joint surfaces, a key advantage in retrofit conditions where existing concrete edges may have experienced wear or differential movement.
Because Sika Emseal products are joint-face adhered and near-tensionless, they eliminate the mechanical wear and recurring maintenance associated with traditional compression seals or metal gland systems. The result is the lowest total cost of ownership over the life of the facility, an essential metric for large-scale, publicly used venues like Gillette.
Impact of Stadium Renovation and Expansion Joint Retrofits
Across the stadium’s long operational history, the Sika Emseal systems installed have:
- Maintained watertight performance despite New England’s challenging climate
- Reduced maintenance frequency and cost, supporting the facility’s sustainability goals
- Improved user experience, with quiet, unobtrusive expansion joint transitions underfoot
- Provided continuous fire, moisture, and thermal protection throughout complex structural transitions
From the seating bowls to the entry plazas and pedestrian walkways, the combination of Emshield products, Seismic Colorseal, DSM, and SJS systems continues to protect Gillette Stadium’s structure from water infiltration, movement-related cracking, and corrosion.
These benefits reinforce why Sika Emseal remains a trusted partner for high-profile venues around the world, from stadiums and airports to hospitals, high-rise towers, and data centers.
