Stadiums

Giving structure to Romanian stadiums

Sport has a very important place in Romania, especially football. ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Europe recently contributed to the construction of two stadiums in the country: the Craiova stadium, inaugurated in November 2017, and the Targu-Jiu stadium which will open this year. Steel produced in Romania was used for both projects with Hollow Structural Sections (HSS) produced in Iasi and made from coils produced by ArcelorMittal.

About the stadiums

Craiova stadium:

Architect: Dico and Tiganas architecture and engineering
Contractors: CON-A S.R.L., ACI CLUJ S.A., and NISAL S.R.L.

Targu-Jiu stadium:

Architect: Dico and Tiganas architecture and engineering
Contractors: ACI CLUJ S.A. and CON-A S.R.L.

100% Romanian steel from ArcelorMittal

Two football stadiums were recently built with ArcelorMittal steel, in Craiova and in Targu-Jiu. For both projects, ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Europe supplied HSS (in EN 10219 standard) to KonigFrankstahl, which were used to build the tribunes and the structure of each stadium.

The HSS were produced by ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Iasi, part of ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Europe. The sections were produced through the Electric Resistance Welding process, which consists of forming a tube with a steel strip by heating the edges and forming them together. The name of the process comes from the heat necessary for welding that is generated by electric currents passed through the steel strip prior to the weld being forged.

Quality, communication and just-in-time delivery

KonigFrankstahl is one of ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Europe’s most important distributors for the Romanian market. KonigFrankstahl has a long-term and strong partnership with one of Romania’s largest
construction companies CON-A (general contractor of these two projects) which demands punctual deliveries to be able to meet project deadlines. KonigFrankstahl received the HSS based on CON-A’s specifications in full bundles from ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Iasi to its warehouses in Bucharest and Sibiu and was able to deliver the material in the exact quantities, even cut pieces, to the different requested locations.

Three main factors convinced KonigFrankstahl to opt for ArcelorMittal products:

• the quality of the products, supported by certificates

• ArcelorMittal’s ability to ensure just-in-time delivery

• excellent communication with ArcelorMittal

Moreover, the collaboration with ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Iasi was very good due to the high support provided from production to logistics despite the high pressure regarding deliveries.

The Craiova stadium, inspired by modern art

The Craiova stadium located in the city of Craiova has a capacity of 30,000 seats and replaces the former Ion Oblemenco Stadium built in 1967. The new stadium was designed by the architects Dico and Tiganas architecture and engineering who took inspiration from the work of art “Mademoiselle Pogany,” carved by Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi. The iconic building offers a modern touch that will boost the development of the local area.

The building envelope has an elliptical shape, which protects the spectator seating area against adverse weather conditions while ensuring that the natural light hits the pitch and closes the secondary spaces under the stands. The volume of the bowl is enhanced thanks to the semi-open roof and the structural "ribs" wrapped with transparent and translucent materials.

The Targu-Jiu stadium comes into line with UEFA standards

Work at the new stadium in Targu-Jiu (in the south of Romania) is nearing completion; the tribune roofs are partially mounted, as well as the two scoreboards. The project involves the reconstruction of the Targu-Jiu Stadium to make it more modern and in line with the UEFA standards. Once completed, the stadium – which should be officially named Pandurii Arena - will have 12,500 seats and will also include an underground car park and a 40-room hotel. In the near future, the area around the stadium will enter into a modernisation process.

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communication

Copyrights: ©Laurentiu Nica, ©ArcelorMittal Iasi

Located in Chorzów, the Silesian stadium (or Stadion Śląski) is one of the most recognisable stadiums in Poland. Inaugurated in 1956, the stadium was recently completely renovated and reopened in October 2017. ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products contributed to the project and provided sheet piles, used to secure the foundations.

A popular place for sports and music

First opened on 22 July 1956 and described as a symbol of Polish football, the Silesian stadium served for many years as a national stadium. Until 2009, It hosted 55 football matches involving Poland’s national football team, and welcomed many international football stars such as Pele, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Silesian stadium was also a popular place to organise concerts and many rock bands performed there such as U2, the Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Linkin Park.

325 tonnes of sheet piles from Dabrowa to secure the foundations

Recently a major overhaul of the stadium was completed to bring it up to modern standards. For this renovation, ArcelorMittal Poland supplied to customer, PPI Chrobok SA, 325 tonnes of GU16-400 sheet piles in grade S355GP and measuring between 8 and 12 metres. 

The sheet piles, produced by ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products in Dąbrowa, were used to secure the foundation trench in the area of the pitch plate. The long-term relationship between Dąbrowa and the customer, as well as the proximity of the mill and the availability of the stock were determining factors in winning this contract. Our sheet piles solution is quick to install, even in hard soil conditions.

After modernisation, the Silesian stadium can now welcome 54,378 spectators during games and 85,000 people during concerts.

It is currently the biggest athletics stadium in Poland.

Facts and figures about the Silesian stadium

•  54,378 places
•  85,000 places during concerts
•  7,500 m2 of turf 9
•  athletics tracks

Fly over the Slaski Park

ArcelorMittal Construction is another entity of our company who participated in this project. While our sheet piles were used for the construction of the stadium, ArcelorMittal Construction Polska also supplied curved steel profiles for the roof of three cable car stations located next to the stadium. The curved steel profiles in green 1018 were supplied to customer Mostostal Zabrze, who built the stations.

Text: ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Copyright images: Archiwum Stadion Slaski sp. z.o.o., Huang Zeng/Shutterstock.com

ArcelorMittal Sheet Piling
ArcelorMittal Construction

For the Euro 2016 celebrated in France, the city of Bordeaux received a new stadium designed by the renowned Swiss architectural practice Herzog & de Meuron. ArcelorMittal supplied steel sections, tubes, cladding sheets and composite flooring profiles for this new building.

The new Bordeaux stadium is entirely made of steel and was completed in 2015. It is the new home of the Bordeaux Football Club Girondins and also one of the France's host stadiums for the Euro 2016.

For its structure, ArcelorMittal supplied 4.200 tonnes of steel sections in grades S275 and S355J0  and 500 tonnes of steel tubes, produced in the company's mills in Spain and Luxembourg. Furthermore, ArcelorMittal Construction France produced 70.000 m2 of Frequence undulating cladding sheets for the interiour cladding (partly with acoustic perforation) and 20.000 m2 of composite flooring profiles  (Cofraplus 60) for the new stadium.

The stadium's design

The Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron are the authors of the new stadium's design. It is characterized by its light and open structure, covered with a square roof that is supported by slender, white columns. These columns resemble a forest, brought to life by the movements of the crowd.

Architecturally, it consists of three elements: the bowl resting on a plinth and the pitch, the concourse as a transitional element between the inside and the outer surroundings and its overall appearance.

The stadium provides seating for around 42.000 spectators, with optimal visibility for all thanks to  its geometry and organic shape. The bowl consists of two superposed tiers divided into four sectors and protected from the elements by the large rectangular roof.

The bowl rests on a compact base that integrates all the programmatic functions into a uniform and symmetrical volume. These include VIP areas, salons distributed east and west, and media areas adjacent to the spaces dedicated to the players.

The roof's structure is not visible from the underside in order to avoid possible distractions of the spectators. Its homogeneous surface guides the visitors' view towards the pitch.

The smooth flow of the spectators as well as easy orientation is guaranteed thanks to the simplicity and the pure lines of the architecture of the bowl and its base.

For the Euro 2016, the Stadium Geoffroy Guichard in the French town of St. Etienne underwent substantial renovation. ArcelorMittal supplied the steel for the venue's new metal skin: perforated trapezoidal Hacierba steel sheets with the metallic coating and precoated ST 500 sheets. Hacierco steel deck was used for the roof.

In preparation for the UEFA European Football Championship celebrated in France in 2016, a total of 10 stadiums in the whole country were renovated. One of the major transformations, however, was carried out at Geoffroy Guichard Stadium.

This legendary venue in St. Etienne, known as the “cauldron”, had already been transformed 7 times since its construction in 1930. The latest and biggest renovation so far started in September 2011 with the objective to increase its capacity (from 35.600 to 40.000 seats) and provide it with a more modern look.
 
The Parisian architectural study Chaix & Morel and Associates created the stadium's new design based on a grooved, perforated steel skin that lets the light through and additional stands for higher capacity.

The stadium has some unique architectural features: due to its rectangular shape and the 4 independent stands that are not connected in the corners, it is considered an “English style” stadium. With the aim to maintain its characteristic rectangular design, part of the refurbishment was the creation of additional stands in three of the four corners.

ArcelorMittal steel solutions

The architects chose several products of ArcelorMittal's Arval range “facade spectacles” for the stadium's new steel skin: the trapezoidal steel profiles Hacierba 5-180 -44 B (called Trapeza® in the French catalogue) are coated on both sides with a metallic coating with 55% aluminum content. This coating is famous for its metallic spangle and low maintenance. Thanks to the transparent layer of aluminum oxide on its surface, it is highly corrosion resistant, making it a sustainable solution for durable facades.

The Hacierba profiles are perforated (R8 T19) and horizontally assembled. Whereas the perforation was originally planned to be 30%, this percentage was lowered in the end to 15,3 % to improve the building's appearace at daylight.

The ribbed profiles in combination with the shiny appearance of metallic coated steel create a certain “rhythm” in the façade. In order to accentuate its light reflection even more, differently sized, square trapezoidal stainless steel profiles acting like mirrors were assembled in random patterns on the perforated façade.

The result is magical: during the day the sunlight enters into the building and the stainless steel sheets lets it sparkle in the light. At dusk, the stadium is converted into a glowing volume, letting its interior illumination out.

Parts of the façade are also clad in ST 500 15/10 sheets, precoated with Hairexcel 25μ in RAL 9006. The architects deliberately chose the geometry of all the cladding profiles to create a certain movement in the façade.

Apart from the 12.000 m2 of cladding profiles, 16.000 m2 of Hacierco  3-45-1000 TS metal decking for the roof, also precoated in RAL 9006, were produced and supplied by ArcelorMittal Construction France.

The transformation was planned in 3 stages without interrupting the stadium's operations. The final stage was finished in summer 2014, the renovation works were concluded end of 2014.

Additional information:
Client: Communautéd’Agglomération de Saint-Etienne Métropole
Architect: Chaix& Morel Associés
Project Manager: Léon Grosse
Engineering office: IOSIS, tous corps d’état
Facade installation: Couvrisol
Roof installation: Etancoba

ArcelorMittal has supplied high strength steel for the construction of the main roof ridge truss of the new fixed-roof, multi-purpose stadium in Minneapolis that will be home to the Minnesota Vikings.

Construction of this new stadium started in December 2013, parallel to the demolition of the old Metrodome stadium. The new stadium is expected to open right in time for the start of the National Football League in 2016 and will be the new home for the NFL franchise Minnesota Vikings.

The new stadium stands out with its sleek, geometrical design which represents an architectural homage to the Vikings’ famous ships.

Its asymmetrical, angular roof made of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) will be translucent to ensure natural lighting as well as protection from rain, wind, snow and sun. It will be the largest roof of this kind in the United States and is characterized by its light weight, high resistance, low maintenance and durability.

ArcelorMittal supplied 3.000 tonnes of steel beams for the main truss that support this roof structure. The beams were rolled at ArcelorMittal's factory in Differdange in Luxembourg and are made of high strength thermomechanical steel A 913 grade 65 (S460).

Apart from the ETFE roof, more than 200.000 square feet (18.500 m2) of glass - among them 5 large pivoting glass doors - contribute to an outdoor feel in a climate-controlled environment and enable the view over the Minneapolis skyline and surrounding plazas.

The stadium offers seating for 65.000 spectators, for special events like the Super Bowl, it can be expanded to 73.000 seats. Seven levels in the stadium, including two general admission concourses with 360-degree circulation and various views into the bowl, will be connected via escalators, elevators, stairs and a continuous ramp.

Two large and high quality HD video boards will be located in both the east and west end zones, and approximately 2,400 HD flat screen televisions will be distributed throughout the stadium. It was designed to guarantee accessibility for people with disabilities and will also include a Vikings Hall of Legends and a team store.

Picture: ©Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority