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The World Cup and the use of glass in the Arenas !

The World Cup and the use of glass in the Arenas !

We want to reinforce a popular subject which is currently being discussed: the use of glass in stadiums. Brazil, the host of this year’s World Cup is a prime example of how this subject is becoming a reality in today’s design.

According to our director Jose Guilherme, the greatest contribution of modern glass (material) is the ability to have complete control between the relation of the exterior and interior environment. We are able to determine the light transmission, solar energy, acoustic performance, color, reflection and security of the glass, which you desire.

In stadiums glass is being used because of its transparency, high durability level, and new technical features.

Let’s think in terms of practical application of glass within stadiums:

Glass facades give an aspect of modernity and they are easy to maintain;

Glass skylights protect fans from the weather, heat, and harmful UV rays;

Glass barrier fan section dividers offer transparency;

Glass guard railings ensure safety without limiting a fan’s view of the match.

To resolve all of these issues in stadiums and sport arenas, notably laminated glass is the best recommendation because it uses true safe glass which even in large quantity almost becomes invisible because it does not give off any form of reflection, (blending it into the surrounding environment).

Let’s now look at some examples to understand all these advantages. The Itaquera Arena in São Paulo contains in its two main facades extra clear curved glass made in Italy with high technology. On the east facade, using organic geometry, the pieces of glass are not repeated; each piece of glass has a shape different from the others! On the west: the curved glass contains LEDs which work as a giant screen! A factor that is impressing everyone is the use of photovoltaic glass, which produces solar electricity. An example of this new technology is the stadium Mineirão in Belo Horizonte which uses photovoltaic glass. According to José Guilherme, Brazil has a huge potential to generate renewable solar energy, but has not explored this potential yet.

Let’s now look at the Pernambuco Arena which was completed with our participation (with our technology directly). The overhead cover of the Arena uses our unitized system Uniglazing: which attached to the nodes of the spherical spatial structure.

We could produce the frames and assemble simultaneously. The 22 Modules that divided the skylight were assembled and glazed on the ground level, and then directly lifted by a crane (for installation). The production and assembly speed allowed the short deadlines required for the Confederation cup in 2013 to be met.

28 truckloads were need to deliver the total 1565 pre-fabricated frames covering a total of 6000m² of the Pernambuco Arena.

If you have already had the pleasure of seeing or will have the pleasure to see the Pernambuco Arena in the upcoming World Cup, you will understand what we are talking about!

Here comes the 2014 World Cup of Brazil!