A new standard for the future development of world events
November 2022 will bring the most prestigious sporting tournament to Doha, Qatar, and all eyes will be on Stadium 974, the innovative 40,000-seat venue and first fully demountable tournament venue in FIFA World Cup™ history. Its design is inspired by Qatar’s worldwide trade and seafaring with “974” being the region’s international dialing code, as well as the exact number of shipping containers used in construction.
Stadium 974, previously known as Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, was constructed using certified shipping containers and modular steel elements. Designed by Fenwick Iribarren Architects, it sets a new standard in sustainability and introduces bold new ideas in tournament legacy planning. The stadium’s modular design also reduced the overall construction cost, timeline and material waste and finished ahead of schedule. Additionally, efficiency methods ensure it will reduce water usage by 40% compared to conventional stadium construction and the stadium’s shape and gaps between seats allows for natural ventilation, eliminating the need for artificial cooling.
With the concept of sustainability being at the very core of the stadium’s design, prefabricated and modular elements were used to make it fully demountable. Stadium 974 will be dismantled and reassembled in a new location or repurposed as several smaller venues at the conclusion of the event. The shipping containers that make up the exterior of the stadium serve multiple purposes. Not only do they serve as spaces to hold staircases, concessions and restrooms, but they also provided their “usual service” of delivering construction materials to the job-site. This approach also reduced the waste generated during production of stadium components and the waste created on-site during construction. The use of modular elements also reduced the venue’s construction duration.
Fenwick Iribarren Architects’ design also achieved a five-star certification in the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) for its construction and design, according to the Supreme Committee for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The GSAS rates green building and infrastructure across the Middle East and North Africa with six stars being the highest achievable rating.
Sources: Construction Dive, Qatar 2022