2. OVERVIEW
The design stage follows once the feasibility of the project has been established.
All of the aspects of the stadium concept, including its specific location, now need to be transformed into a detailed design. This design will inform the construction stage and define the legacy that the stadium operator will be working with over the stadium’s life cycle.
The use of digital technology during the design, construction and operational phases can facilitate more accurate and collaborative working and contribute to the overall success of a project. Therefore, this should be considered at the very beginning of the design stage.
The design then needs to be worked up in layers, focusing on the “big ticket” items that make up a stadium:
• The pitch represents the main stage of any stadium and should be another key design consideration.
• Its orientation is determined at this stage and can be crucial in terms of the suitability of the location of the main stand and broadcast camera positions.
• The roof and facade are also assessed in this category because they can define the visual appearance of the stadium and also protect the stadium and its users from the elements.
• The stadium bowl incorporates spectator viewing accommodation, and therefore its capacity and design are key considerations in any stadium project.
The challenges posed by climate change were outlined in Chapter 1. In this chapter, the topic of sustainability and how it should be applied to stadium design is looked at in more detail, including the economic and social aspects of sustainability.
The importance of accessibility in stadium design is then discussed.
Finally, the topic of future-proofing, i.e. how stadiums can be designed to grow in the future, is addressed. This also covers the concept of event overlay, which facilitates the transformation of stadiums for specific tournaments or events.