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Kuwait's Jaber Al-Ahmed International Stadium |
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The largest soccer stadium in the country, the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium features a billowing shading canopy of PTFE fabric membrane attached to an intricate tensioned steel cable structure designed, engineered, and installed by Birdair, Inc. The canopy design offers spectators an effective shade system with a touch of Middle Eastern flair.
Birdair, Inc.
65 Lawrence Bell Drive
Amherst, NY 14221
Phone: 716-633-9500
E-mail:
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Web site: www.birdair.com
Contact Person: Kevin Mayer, Vice President Business Development, Marketing & Sales
Title of Project: Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Description of the Project: The largest soccer stadium in the country, the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium features a billowing shading canopy of PTFE fabric membrane attached to an intricate tensioned steel cable structure designed, engineered, and installed by Birdair, Inc. The canopy design offers spectators an effective shade system with a touch of Middle Eastern flair.
Why was it Manufactured? The tensioned fabric membrane roof was designed to shield fans from the searing desert heat, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 130° Fahrenheit (54° Celsius). The PTFE-coated Sheerfill II fabric also helps to lower operating costs by reducing the need for supplemental electric lighting. This is due to the material’s inherent translucency, which allows light to pour through the woven fiberglass material to brighten the stadium’s interior space.
Where is it Located? The city of Safat in Kuwait
What is Unique About the Structure and/or what technical difficulties were overcome to make it a reality? The structure was designed to offer spectators an effective shade system, while also possessing a touch of Middle Eastern flair. The design of the fabric membrane peaks illustrate Kuwait’s southern sand dunes. The canopy design provides a shade system, while allowing daylight to reach the stadium’s natural grass playing surface. Additional light transmittance is supplied through the 450 illuminated holographic glass cupolas visible in each fabric peak, along with the inherent translucency of the PTFE-coated Sheerfill II fabric. The stadium is the largest soccer and Olympic-standard sports venue in Kuwait and is certified to host international soccer and athletic events.
How Did the Project Achieve the Client’s Needs?The owner’s vision was to create a structure using a tent or cone-shape that linked the roof of the stadium to Kuwait ’s Middle Eastern heritage. The roofing system also had to provide an effective shade system that would shield fans from the searing desert heat. The resulting structure conveys a look that is uniquely Arabian, from the fabric peaks that resemble sand dunes to the saddle-shaped steel latticework that links the region to its nomadic past. Birdair, Inc. capitalized on the daylight harvesting properties of the PTFE-coated Sheerfill II fabric in an effort to lower operating costs while also effectively utilizing the fabric to achieve the desired shading system.
List Company or Person Responsible for the following:
Design: Birdair, Inc.
Architect: Weidleplan Consulting Gmb
Engineer: Birdair, Inc.
Fabrication: Birdair, Inc.
Subcontractor: Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons
Graphics: Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons
Project Manager: Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons
Installation: Birdair, Inc.
Material Selection: Sheerfill II PTFE
Suppliers: Birdair, Inc.
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