EDUCATION CITY STADIUM - Fenwick Iribarren Architects

Sports

WORLD’S FIRST STADIUM COOLED WITH SOLAR ENERGY. THE INTERIOR TEMPERATURE OF THE STADIUM DOES NOT EXCEED 27°C, IN CONTRAST TO THE NEAR 50°C TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE.

Client Qatar Foundation
Location Doha Qatar
Size 140.000M₂
Spectators 40.000
Status Finished

As well as fulfilling the clients brief as the main sports complex for the Education City in Doha, Fenwick Iribarren Architects wanted to exploit it as a major social focal point within the campus as a green area with sun shading elements for public comfort. The stadium has been one of the venues which has hosted matches in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The stadium was envisioned for group, knockout and quarter-final matches during the tournament with a capacity for 40.000 spectators. The stadium’s capacity will be reduced to 25.000 following the world cup by dismantling the upper tier.

About the project

The facade features triangles that create complex geometric diamond patterns that appear to change color depending on the sun’s position.

The other facilities, indoor swimming, tennis and multipurpose sports pavilions, are entrenched below a faceted landscape roof that acts as a green forecourt to the iconic diamond shaped stadium, itself the focal point at the end of a principle east-west axis of the Education City. This axis is enhanced by the sunken curved street and plaza that provides access to the various sports facilities. This sunken oasis thus becomes the social hub of activity within the complex and EC, including a wide range of public amenities and facilities.

THE EDUCATION CITY STADIUM REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN STADIUM SUSTAINABILITY.

Its structure was designed to prevent extreme heat for both the public and players by creating a microclimate within the complex. As a result, the interior temperature of the stadium, including the facilities, the playing field, and the stands, does not exceed 26°C to 27°C, compared to the nearly 50°C temperatures that can be reached outside.

The stadium also features carbon dioxide sensors to ensure ventilation and indoor air quality, as well as an efficient irrigation system to minimize water consumption.

The interior was constructed using low-toxicity materials, providing a healthy indoor environment, and it includes LED sports lighting. Eighty-five percent of the construction materials were locally sourced, and 29% were generated from recycled materials.

Fenwick Iribarren Architects were engaged as lead consultant by Qatar Foundation on the first new stadium design for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. Fenwick Iribarren Architects were responsible for the full design from concept design to tender – a process that underwent various dramatic changes due to the client’s initial request to have a stadium that could be converted from football to athletics and also changes in the environmental design criteria due to the moving of the World Cup from Summer to Winter. The overall stadium design concept is the only one to have remained intact from the original bid book submission in 2010.

The Stadium fulfils GSAS Gold Environmental Certificate.

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