Just some of the solutions Aurecon offers developers include the following: Translucent roofsĪdding translucency to a retractable roof provides a level of lighting to the grass that can facilitate growth. Overcoming these to arrive at an effective, efficient and dynamic retractable roof solution requires considerable input from architects, engineers, owners and operators.
This creates a catch-22 for the owners and operators because protecting spectators from harsh environmental effects essentially hinders the air and sunlight that needs to get to the grass in order to ensure its growth and longevity. In large stadiums, where they are mainly used for both sporting and non-sporting events, roofs protect the spectators from environmental effects such as sun, rain and wind.īut while the roof provides shelter and a comfortable environment for spectators, it creates a large shadow effect that can impact, for instance, in a football ground, turf and grass growth. In many instances, a stadium roof makes sound business sense for developers, but these roofs are also a double edged sword. Overcoming the limitations of stadium roofs These are other facets of the business case that compels sports stadium developers to invest in retractable roofs. In projects like Wembley Stadium in London retractable roof panels open over stands on three sides facilitating grass growth as well as improving the quality of outside broadcasting due to elimination of large shadows cast on the playing field. Retractable roofs have been a game changer as they create a better environment for natural grass in the open conditions. Many of the popular domed stadiums that were built during the 1960s and 1970s required artificial turf as the enclosed structures wouldn’t allow adequate sunshine for natural grass to grow. This is part of the financial business case for choosing a retractable roof. The fan experience and the environment in which fans experience sporting events is far better when it involves a retractable roof. Thanks to retractable roofs, events can proceed as planned regardless of the weather conditions. This flexibility in stadium usage helps build a business case for investing in a retractable roof.Īnother advantage is ensuring that games, events and exhibitions aren’t cancelled on account of bad weather.įans and supporters don’t attend events if they know they are going to get wet. Retractable roofs ensure that a stadium can be used for purposes besides sporting events, such as concerts, exhibitions and shows. Clients and developers need to carefully weigh in on the legacy of a stadium – in other words, what will the stadium be used for after a prestigious event has passed? Very few retractable roof stadiums are alike, and each one has their own support, traction and control systems that enable the roofing panels to safely and reliably fold back, retract or slide off the top of each other in order to expose the area they cover.īuilding a solid business case for a retractable roof is key.
Retractable roofs require clever design because they need to be able to move hundreds of thousands of kilograms of steel, glass, cladding and ceiling material, and mechanical and electrical services in a matter of minutes. This provides flexibility in creating the level of required level of weather protection while maintaining optimum play conditions, fan experience, and conditions for natural grass to grow. Today, retractable roofs – the next-generation of roofing systems – are convertible and can be opened up to let the sun shine in on good weather days, and closed during bad weather. In the past, many popular, multi-purpose stadia roofs were simply domed. In this article, Aurecon explores the successful design of these roofs in order to maximise both fan experience and all-important return on investment. Many modern stadium roofs are retractable because this creates maximum flexibility however retractable roofs present their own set of unique challenges. Stadia roofs are complex structures which require significant architectural and engineering effort. Fans flock to local and international sports stadiums to see their favourite sports team challenge their competitors, to watch concerts, attend national celebrations and record highlights on their smart phones in real-time – and a stadium’s roof can make or break the experience that they have.
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