Sports Technology

The new Forsyth Barr stadium in Dunedin is set to host its inaugural game of rugby on 7th August, just over a month before the start of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

International architects, Populous what is the world's first permanently enclosed, natural turf stadium with its space age transparent roof in association with local firm Jasmax.

Replacing Dunedin's legendary Carisbrook 'House of Pain', construction of the stadium, which features 20,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary seats, has been completed on time and on budget, ahead of the 2011 Rugbt World Cup tournament, during which the stadium will host four games.

The Stadium's unique roof is the result of extensive research by the design team. While ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) is not a new product and was originally developed for the space industry, it is the first time its UV translucent properties have been put to use in a stadium, creating the largest ETFE covered structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Dunedin's extreme cold and wet climate (the Stadiums is the most southerly professional sport stadium in the world) makes the roof an essential feature to encourage crowds to attend live events.

Populous Senior Principal and Project Director of Forsyth Barr stadium, Richard Breslin, believes that legacy is an essential ingredient in the stadium's design. The revolutionary design of Forsyth Barr provides the multifunctionality and flexibility so it is perfectly positioned to be used by its community all year round.

Breslin explains "New Zealanders are well known for their tenacity and innovation and that's exactly what Forsyth Barr stadium is all about.

"Research by many people has created this final concept of a natural grass pitch growing under a permanent roof structure .The unique permanent roof is clad in EFTE, a transparent polymer or plastic, which is light, enclosed and translucent, allowing maximum sunlight onto the pitch, so that the grass keeps growing but the fans are protected from the elements and the action goes on whatever the weather.

"The permanent roof means Forsyth Barr is a true hybrid between a highly efficient, well functioning football/rugby stadium and an entertainment venue."

The stadium opens up new opportunities for the city of Dunedin. Not only does it now have the country's largest rectangular stadium (as New Zealand's other major stadia are all designed for both cricket and rugby), Forsyth Barr stadium will also be New Zealand's largest indoor event venue, capable of hosting world class entertainment such as major concerts, performances and festivals. Its all round potential will be showcased by the singer songwriter Sir Elton John, who will stage the first concert at the stadium in November this year.

The rectangular design will also change the way we view the live game in New Zealand according to Breslin who adds "the angled seating pitch and enclosed roof will mean spectators are closer to the action than ever before and the atmosphere will be fantastic. I was there recently, and even though there was no game on, the sense of enclosure made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I could almost hear the noise, and the smell and feel of the atmosphere of the rival teams during that first big rugby match."

A team of turf experts, engineers and the stadium architects undertook rigorous studies over two years to understand the effects of grass growth under ETFE all year round, and an ETFE test rig was built on site to monitor grass growth both under the rig and outside it.

Populous Associate Principal, Ron Van Sluijs, project architect of Forsyth Barr stadium during its design phase, said the grass under the rig was healthier and stronger than the grass around it and the team is confident the grass will grow better at Forsyth Barr than it would at a similar unroofed stadium in Dunedin, adding "the new roof means we can maintain a constant temperature and grow a stronger grass which will not become boggy because it will never rain, snow, or hail inside the stadium during a game at Forsyth Barr.

"This roof material allows for 90% of sunlight to still reach the pitch, along with UV light and fresh air."

Project architect during the construction phase at Forsyth Barr, Populous Associate Jochem Veerman said the sectional profile of the stadium was carefully designed to maximise solar penetration onto the field as well as the natural ventilation.

Van Sluijs concludes "the ETFE covers the roof and parts of the facades, the stands on the Northern end are lower to allow maximum sun light onto the pitch and the end facades are raised five metres so the stadium is open at these points, allowing natural ventilation of the grass, and to ensure spectators do not feel enclosed. There are also ventilation slots at a high level to ensure air circulates properly."

Forsyth Barr is one of three stadia Populous has designed for the Rugby World Cup; the others are New Zealand's main stadium Eden Park in Auckland, which will host the semi finals and final of the competition and Westpac Stadium in Wellington which will host quarter finals.

Related Articles

14th January 2011 - Elton John to Open Forsyth Barr Stadium

1st May 2009 - Dunedin Stadium Can Now Be Built