THE CHALLENGE – INSURE NEW STADIUM IS ‘MATCH FIT’ IN TIME FOR KICK OFF
Whangarei required a stadium in time for the 2010 Super 15 rugby season. As well as seating – mostly undercover – for approximately 3000 spectators, the stadium would need corporate boxes and hospitality areas totally sheltered from the elements.
Barry Copeland of Copeland Associates Architects recognized that a tensile membrane roof would benefit the project in many ways. It would allow the stadium to be built quickly; provide a reflective surface that would reduce lighting requirements for night matches; allow natural light to permeate for day events; and help to reduce the overall construction cost of the project. Moreover, a membrane roof would make the stadium more aesthetically pleasing – an asset for city to be proud of.
THE SOLUTION – TENSION MEMBRANE ROOF THAT SAVES TIME AND MONEY
Structurflex was engaged to design and install a tension membrane roof to cover the stadium. Both the stadium and the roof were built within the required time frames. The roof’s steel supporting structure was designed to be lightweight and completely clear of the spectators’ view of the sporting action.
This stadium was the only Rugby World Cup 2011 venue with a fabric tension membrane roof.
We are pleased to have collaborated with KieranTimberlake and the outfit of a parking structure on the Rice University Campus. In their blog post, they describe the concepts they employed to create an iconic sculptural element. For more details see the KieranTimberlake blog post.
The Increasing Importance of DurabilityWhile tensile fabric has several distinct advantages over more traditional materials like glass, one of the most important may be its ability to withstand severe weather events. Our tensile structures and tensile facades in Miami, Jacksonville, Houston, Fort Worth, Waco, and Atlanta did not sustain any damage or require any repair despite enduring events ranging […]
