Project Gallery / Durban Stadium

With a prime coastal location and noteworthy design, Durban Stadium will provide 2010 World Cup attendees with a superb visual experience while serving as a prominent addition to the surrounding South African countryside.

The 70,000-seat facility’s visually intriguing design includes a towering 1,100-foot, 30-story arch. Visually, the arch is designed to stand out against the South African skyline. Functionally, the arch provides support for the 700 metric tons of cable comprising the tensile roofing system’s support system. As an added feature, patrons are able to ascend the arch by cable car for a bird’s-eye view from above center field.

The 500,000 square-foot roof, designed to shade and protect 88% of spectators, consist of 208 separate folded-plate PTFE panels. Durban Stadium along with two other new stadiums, Nelson Mandela Bay and Cape Town, will host the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The stadium will welcome six first-round World Cup matches, one second-round match, and one semi-final match.

After the 2010 World Cup, the athletic facility will function as the hub of King’s Park Sporting Precinct, a large retail and cultural complex complete with restaurants, an amphitheatre, a sports history museum and a public park with beach access. The facility will additionally play host to various sporting and cultural events including rugby matches and concerts.

Project: Durban Stadium
Owner: South African Football Association
Architect: GMP Architects, Cape Town, South Africa
Engineer: Schalich-Bergermann & Partners, Stuttgart, Germany
Market Sector: Stadiums & Arenas
Material: PTFE coated fiberglass
Location: Durban, South Africa
Completed: 2009