STADIAWORLD | SPORTS VENUES 2019/20

78    |   SPORTS VENUES 2019/20 www.stadiaworld.com CONSTRUCTION REPORT T he 60th anniversary of the Eu- ropean Championship will be marked in a special “pan-Euro- pean” way with the tournament being held across 12 European countries. In order for players and visitors to feel completely “at home”, the stadiums will provide an open feeling with the utmost hospitality and zest for life. Thus, through innovative concepts, sport arenas can inspire as a type of busi- ness card for a country or city. Notably, large-scale transparent roof struc- tures symbolize an air of lightness, whilst providing natural brightness in the stadi- ums. Furthermore, transparency is often chosen purely as a stylistic device. For a long time now, Makrolon ® multiwall and solid sheets from Covestro have become an indispensable material in modern ar- chitecture. They are both light and stable, making them ideal for use with large roofs. The low weight and ease of processing of this high-performance material allows the constructer to realize the most daring of ar- chitectural designs. Here are some selected examples from across Europe: Multifunctional plastic with outstanding properties Polycarbonate sheets are lighter in weight than glass, making them easier to transport and process with the minimum of effort. In addition, the substructures, which are usually made of metal or aluminium, can be more intricately designed. Compared with many other transparent materials, Makrolon ® sheets have excellent impact re- sistance, are virtually unbreakable and have very good temperature and heat resistance. Their flammability classification according to B-s1, d0 is another important asset in the construction industry. In real life testing, the sheets were classified as “non-burning dripping”. Polycarbonate sheets can also be coated on one or both sides to increase scratch resistance. This also increases the resistance to abrasion and various chemi- cal attack, such as acid rain. UV stability is usually achieved by applying a UV-inhibit- ing coating on the sheet surface. This layer, which is required for outdoor use, contains a UV absorber and protects the polycar- bonate for many years against yellowing and loss of quality. Another interesting fea- ture of polycarbonate sheets is the so-called “no-drop” design. This causes a uniform distribution of moisture on the surface. The accumulated water flows away, thus there is no annoying dripping and the refraction of light is not affected. Good sound insulation in the Allianz Stadium “Grüne Hölle” of Vienna Approximately 19,000 square metres of roof and wall space of the most modern Allianz football stadium in Austria are covered with Makrolon ® multi UV 3/16-16 polycarbonate multiwall sheets. Four different shades of green are used to reflect the club colours and used as a design element in the roof and wall area. As a result, the stadium blends into its surroundings like a green forest. Another requirement for the new build- ing was to reduce noise pollution for the neighbouring residents. This is where the Makrolon ® multiwall sheet scores highly with its sound insulation properties in com- bination with the now closed roof corners. Clear transparent multiwall sheets with a length of up to 13 metres were used for the inner ring of the roof. The geometry of the sheets meant that large spans could be realized, capable of withstanding high loads and thus achieving considerable savings in the substructure. In addition, high transparency of the inner ring of the roof also ensures that enough light is provided to the lawn for natural growth. Again, thanks to the versatile processing options, Makrolon ® UV sheets were opti- mally adapted to the roof profile. Further- more, high impact and weather resistance of the UV-protected sheets provide opti- mal protection for the fans whether sun, rain, snow or hailstorm. The Luzhniki Stadium, a spectacular stadium in Moscow After a four-year renovation, the venera- ble Olympic Stadium Luschniki awoke to a new birth in the 2018 World Cup in Mos- cow. It has 81,000 seats, 2,000 VIP seats and 2,500 media seats; the ideal venue for Sports arenas – bright and light flooded Transparent plastic panels for creative roof structures: The dawn of the next major sporting event is approaching, as football fans around the world look forward to the European Championship 2020. Picture: Covestro Reduced noise pollution for residents thanks to Makrolon® multiwall sheets with sound insulation properties.