Main image: Photo credit The Mirror

The third tournament-ready venue, the ultra-modern Education City Stadium, one of the world’s first open cooled stadiums for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, was completed on 15 June 2020. Designed and built with sustainability in mind, this 40 000-seater stadium offers an elegant design and is a clear demonstration of Qatar’s commitment to sustainability. The 233 000m² stadium can accommodate 45 000 spectators and will host eight matches.

History

On 2 December 2014, the Education City Stadium design was revealed. By May 2015 already one million hours had been completed on site. The first concrete was poured in March 2017 and in July 2018 the main concrete structure was finished. In November 2018 work began on lifting the roof and by July 2019 the roof was completed. The seats were installed by November and on 5 June 2020, the stadium was officially completed.

The location

The stadium is located at the heart of Qatar’s Foundation’s Education City campus. Fans can travel to the venue via the Doha Metro that trams directly into the stadium, reducing traffic on match days. There are also cycle paths and bike tracks to encourage transport that is better for the environment.

The location of the Education City Stadium was chosen to ensure easy accessibility, particularly for disabled fans. Fans will only have to travel a short distance to their seats along shaded, tree-lined paths.

After the completion of the FIFA World Cup 2022, the stadium will remain a focal point of the community with training pitches and other sporting and non-sporting facilities, all within easy reach of the local academic community.

Education City

Education City is home to the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, which is a key stakeholder of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. The project manager for the stadium was ASTAD Project Management, and Fenwick Iribarren Architects was the original concept lead designer. The main works contractor was JPAC JV, who appointed Pattern as the design architect, Salfo as the site lead designer and BuroHappold for the engineering design.

The design

The organisations coordinated and worked together very closely to ensure the creation of an inspiring stadium with a focus on sustainability. The form was inspired by diamonds and will be treasured for many generations to come. Like diamonds, the stadium’s design represents quality, durability and resilience.

The facade features triangles that form complex, diamond-esque geometrical patterns that appear to change colour with the sun’s movement. At night the facade gives a colourful light show, highlighting its elegant design. This arena was built to create memories with its epic football matches, fuelled by the passion of its fans. The sides of the stadium reach up and envelop the pitch to help its cooling system to operate and bring people closer to the action.

Sustainability

Education City, where the venue is based, is a confirmation of Qatar’s dedication to promoting sustainability in the country.   

The inclusion of smart building systems, integrated water and energy control, and a monitoring system will assist to manage real-time consumption. With its environmentally friendly design and construction practices, the stadium’s carbon footprint will be reduced during the construction and throughout the stadium’s lifetime.

This arena is a leader in the field of sustainability and a clear representation of what is possible when people work together towards the same goal.

Green construction

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy contributed to green construction practices. At least 55% of the materials used in the building of the stadium came from sustainable sources and 28% of the construction materials have recycled contents. Drought-tolerant and native plant species were used in 75% of the landscaping.

In January 2020, the stadium was the first to receive a five-star sustainability rating under the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), signalling its commitment to protecting the environment.

Legacy

The stadium houses 40 000 seats and after the World Cup it will be reduced to 20 000 seats. The other 20 000 seats will be used in new stadiums around the world, especially in developing countries where new sporting venues are created.

Its legacy will aid in social, football and infrastructure development. It will leave Education City with a venue that is suited to the needs of its growing population of students, faculty and staff.  Post-2022, local, regional and international sporting fixtures hosted here will attract smaller crowds. It will also house the offices of non-governmental organisations that are dedicated to using sport as a developmental tool.

Locally the stadium will host sports and leisure events; and will act as a social hub for students and surrounding communities. Local sports clubs can use the facilities, entertainment events will take place here and a new school will be built close to the venue to allow future generations to benefit from the Education City Stadium’s legacy.

Full acknowledgement and thanks go to https://www.qatar2022.qa/en/stadiums/education-city-stadium and https://www.qatar2022.qa/en/stadiums/education-city-stadium/design for the information in this editorial.

For more international projects like these, subscribe to our free magazine on http://tiny.cc/fwsubs Sign up for our newsletter: http://www.buildinganddecor.co.za/register/ or join other discussions on http://www.facebook.com/buildinganddecor, http://www.twitter.com/buildingdecor and https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/10172797/