Al Gharafa Stadium for FIFA 2022-Practical Design and Detailing

摘要

Qatar was chosen to host the prestigious FIFA World Cup 2022, which had instilled Qatar to act swiftly in delivering FIFA-compliant stadiums and training fields. One of such stadium planned was Al Gharafa Stadium. Though this stadium isn't entirely new, but upgrading the seating capacity from 25k to 40k, upgrading the pitch, and covering it partially for air conditioning without any additional support/load on the existing structure is unprecedented. The stadium had to be built ground up with new planning and challenges posed by, weaker ground, aged structure of quarter a century, larger span, FIFA compliance, and to air-condition. Air conditioning such a large stadium to 23°C with external temperature ranging 45-50°C, to achieve this cooling solution, larger roof structural system was conceptualized with unobstructed spectators' view. The structural challenge was posed by the discontinuity of the span at the apex to have central opening to skylight. The design was achieved with single layer triangulated space structure inspired by a football, with peripheral support over piled strip foundation.