Designing and Building a Sports Stadium

What is involved with designing and building a Sports Stadium?

At some point in our lives, most of us have been to see a professional football match, or possibly a concert. Once we arrive, we often find ourselves negotiating a series of tunnels, walkways, escalators, and stairs which only leads to the build-up in anticipation to eventually arrive at the designated area of our ticket for the event. But have you ever wondered how these stadiums come to be? Let us have a look at all the responsible things to build a sports stadium:

First and foremost:

The level of engineering and planning that goes into the constructions of these buildings can be astounding, and often begins with years of planning before a build even commences. The pre-concept of the design will originate with the architects working on the project. They will collect and analyse data relating to the project brief and analysis of the site, such as transportation and parking, population density, suitable land quality, the orientation of the complex, and impact on the surrounding area.

Purpose:

Further to this, the intended purposes for which the stadium will be used must also be considered, as this will then change the required sports surfaces and the distance of the audience. For example, the viewing of a tennis court compared to a football field would vary immensely. Some stadiums have the capability to host numerous event types and have what is essentially a giant interchangeable floor, however, this functionality can be prohibitively expensive and many stadiums are increasingly leaning towards being purpose-built for one or 2 types of events that use a similar sized space.

The next major step is the concept, where the development of all the design details, as well as construction and structural requirements, are addressed. The aesthetic appeal must also be considered as this can often have an unexpectedly large impact on drawing a crowd.

Design

Schematic design is carried out by architectural engineers, where they determine the capacity of a stadium. Financially speaking there is little point in building something that will never draw a crowd, large enough to reach capacity, and the same for the opposite, a stadium that cannot fit enough people in. The variance in capacity will also impact the points of ingress and egress as well as the structural load of thousands of people. These engineers will run criteria testing and crowd modelling to ensure the building will live up to its intended purpose.

Calculations:

Once all the calculations have been finalised, all the necessary equipment will need to be ordered.

This element can be a huge decision due to the variety of products available. Experts in this area, there are many good places to consult due to their extensive experience and diverse range. Their Australian made products are made to endure the harshest environments, and their team of expert consultants have experience in dealing with almost every sport at the highest level.

Time and Final Step:

The finalised plans can then be passed on to the commercial building contactors to begin the construction. The overall build process usually takes somewhere between 6 months and 3 years depending on the size and complexity of the actual project. It is always good to ensure you use established professionals in their respective fields when proceeding with a project like this, to ensure the stadium lives on as a part of the city in which it was built.

These are the few steps which are involved in building a sports stadium. All famous stadiums across the world were built with a complete strategy.