20 BEST BUILDS
COCA-COLA ARENA
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Capacity: 17,000
Tenants: Various
Opened: June 2019
Coca-Cola Arena is the first and largest multi-purpose indoor venue in the
region and the only climate-controlled facility of its kind between Istanbul
and Singapore. It was conceived in order to accommodate the world’s best
acts in music and entertainment all year round – not just the cooler winter
months, explains Coca-Cola Arena CEO, Guy Ngata.
“We’re trying to buck that trend of there being an ‘events season’ so,
when a lot of other event organizers are closing up shop for summer,
we’re going to market.”
The arena is nestled in the bustling urban lifestyle neighborhood of
Dubai’s City Walk and is a technological chameleon, designed to adapt to
a multitude of different productions and technical specifications.
Internally, it houses a rolling modular stage, automated drapes and a
retractable seating system that can be adapted between a large-scale
arena set-up and a more intimate space for smaller-scale events. Its roof
is designed for mega-events in mind, with an overall weight load
allowance of 190-tons for the most demanding stage productions.
AVIVA STADIUM
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Capacity: 51,700
Tenants: Ireland National Rugby Union team,
Republic of Ireland National soccer team
(FAI), Leinster Rugby
Opened: May 2010
Behind the curvilinear contours and undulating façade of
Ireland’s Aviva Stadium is the country’s premier sporting
venue. Home to its national rugby and soccer teams, the
stadium was built on the historic site of the previous
national stadium, which prior to closure was the oldest
rugby union ground in the world (built in 1872) and the
oldest sports stadium in Europe. The US$451m venue is
one of the top sustainable and site-responsive stadiums
built in the modern era.
It features a transparent façade that is clad in
polycarbonate louvres and glass to avoid blockage of
sunlight on the adjacent residences. The exposed pre-cast
and in-site structures used low carbon concrete. Timber
was procured from sustainable resources. Plastic used for
the façade is fully recyclable and even the top-soil of the
old playing surface was stored during construction and
reused on the new field.
It received the Emirates Glass LEAF Award in 2011
for its commitment to energy efficiency in building
management systems.
56 www.stadia-magazine.com Showcase 2020
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