c a c a c 8 a c a c Sports Projects a c Serving National Pride a c and Commerce a c a c a c a c

Sports facilities fulfill roles that extend the new Doha International Airport, which beyond the merely utilitarian. The projects express the high ambitions of this small but featured in this chapter provide two diver- extremely wealthy Emirate in areas such as gent examples of these roles. On the one higher education and research and global hand, Khalifa Sports City and the Sports air transportation. One may add the media City Tower are intentional expressions of to these ambitions, since the Qataris own national pride. This is particularly evident the well-known international Al Jazeera in the Sports City Tower, which rises to a television network, and it is located in height of 300 m and housed the Fifteenth Doha. In contrast to these other symbols Asian Games’ flame at its top when the of national identity and pride, however, Games took place in Qatar. The tower is Al Jazeera has a strong visual presence essentially a symbolic monument announc- through the medium of the televised image, ing to Qatar’s significant accom- and therefore does not require representa- plishment of hosting the second largest tion or celebration through architecture. multi-sport event after the Olympic Games. On the other hand, the Motor City In contrast, the various functions that the Autodrome and the four stadiums of the tower is intended to house, including a con- are income-generating ference center, hotel, restaurant, and sports commercial endeavors that are intimately museum, are superfluous to its form. They linked to Dubai’s tourism strategy. Tourism even seem like an afterthought, and they makes up about a fifth of Dubai’s economy, mostly remain unrealized after the games. and the emirate received the impressive In 2010, Qatar built on this accomplishment number of 5.64 million tourists during the by winning the bid for hosting the 2022 first three quarters of 2009, even though World Cup. this was a period of global economic down- The Khalifa Sports City complex there- turn. The Dubai authorities are marketing fore takes on symbolic significance that the emirate as the “sports capital of the other building types such as museums, Middle East,” and international sports mosques, or airports also often assume. It events that attract both residents and visi- therefore may be viewed within the wider tors are regularly held there. The projects context of other large-scale architectural featured in this section from Dubai are in- and urban interventions taking place in tended to solidify its position as a center of Qatar. These include Education City and regional and international sports tourism.

163 Doha Sports City Designed by the French firm AREP in association with parabolic mesh facade with varying perfora- the Lebanese-American architect Hadi Simaan of tion ratios that differentiate the northern Tower, Khalifa Hadi Simaan and Partners, with the London-based and southern exposures to minimize solar Sports City, international engineering firm Arup as structural gain. The area of perforations also increases Doha, Qatar engineers. as one moves toward the top of the tower The tower exterior was completed in 2006, in time for to better accommodate increasing wind the Fifteenth Asian Games. The tower’s internal speeds. components, however, remain unfinished. The structure is intended to house a number of functions, all of which will be The $175 million Doha Sports City Tower, lo- grouped around the central tower core cated in proximity to Khalifa Stadium, rises and wrapped by a curved glass outer shell. to a height of 300 m, making it the tallest The lower levels eventually will include in Qatar and a major landmark in Doha. an atrium 60 m high as well as a ballroom It has a facade surface of 30,000 m2 and a and conference center. Above that will be built-up area of 45,000 m2. The tower was a series of stories containing hotel rooms, built to hold the flame for the 2006 Asian with a health club and a cantilevered swim- Games at its top, which was the largest ming pool on top. Above the hotel will be a flame in Olympic history, and it was kept sports museum, a revolving restaurant, and burning for the duration of the games. The a viewing deck. flame was shielded from the wind by a glass The owert also integrates a sophisticated canopy 30 m tall. surface lighting system consisting of a The esignd of the structure includes network of LED lamps installed within its a central concrete core from which the mesh. These may be programmed to project tower’s various functional modules are can- various images and patterns or even to tilevered. The tower is sheathed by a steel broadcast videos.

164 Sports Projects: Serving National Pride and Commerce Figures 8.1.1–8.1.4. The 300 m high Doha Sports City Tower was built to hold the flame of the 2006 Asian Games, the largest flame in Olympic history. The tower is to eventually house a number of functions includ- ing a ballroom and conference center, a hotel, a sports museum, a revolving restaurant, and a viewing deck. Khalifa Sports The master plan for Sports City was developed by the variety of sports halls and clubs, a sports Australian firm GHD (Gutteridge, Haskins & Davey). academy, a mosque, a park, and the 17,600 City Master The stadium upgrade was carried out by GHD in m2 Orthopedic Sports Medicine Hospital Plan and association with the Australian firms Cox Richardson designed by the American firm Ellerbe Khalifa Stadium Architects and Planners and PTW Architects, with the Becket. London-based international engineering firm Arup as Khalifa Stadium was the main venue Upgrade, Doha, structural engineers. for the games and the centerpiece of the Qatar Stadium upgrade was completed in 2005; Sports City was Khalifa Sports City. It hosted the opening completed in 2006. and closing ceremonies, as well as main events, including soccer games. The stadium The Khalifa Sports city was developed to originally was built in 1976, but under- host the 2006 Fifteenth Asian Games in went an extensive upgrade and expansion Doha, which drew over 10,000 athletes that has more than doubled its original from 45 countries in Asia. The sporting 20,000-person seating capacity in time for event is second in size only to the Olympics. the games. The main visual features of the The Qatari government pledged $700 upgrade/expansion project include a tensile million for building sports facilities for the fabric roof, which covers its west stand, event and devoted an area of over 230 hect- and a parabolic steel arch, which holds the ares for a sports city. lighting system and speakers and spans 265 The master planner for the project, GHD, m over the east stand. The stadium includes also was the project manager for the 2000 a range of facilities located over six levels Olympic Games in Sydney. In addition, such as changing rooms, toilets, admin- GHD won the contract to plan and imple- istration facilities, and lounges. It also is ment the Asian Games, which included linked to warm-up fields and an additional preparing the strategic plan outlining the building for changing rooms through a 120 planning and delivery of sporting venues, m underground tunnel. The stadium’s eleva- security, transportation, and accommoda- tions are articulated with red and silver tion, as well as the opening and closing aluminum panel cladding, and art works ceremonies. adorn its front side. A host of complexes have been built to The stadium is the focal point of the accommodate the various events associated main east-west axis that passes through with the games. These include the Khalifa the Sports City. Another north-south axis Stadium, the Doha Sports City Tower, a organizes the site’s main road network.

166 Sports Projects: Serving National Pride and Commerce Figures 8.2.1–8.2.4. Khalifa Stadium is the centerpiece of the Khalifa Sports City, and it was the main venue for the Doha 2006 Fifteenth Asian Games. The stadium was built in 1976, but it was extensively upgraded and its seating capacity was more than doubled in time for the games. Dubai Motor The Autodrome is the first phase of the . track, depending on the location of seats. Its master plan was developed by the American firm The client also stipulated that the Burj Al City Autodrome, HOK Sport Architecture (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Arab hotel be visible from the Grandstand , Sport Architecture; renamed Populous in 2009). The seating. The Grandstand features function Dubai, United second phase was developed by the American firm Burt rooms for large gatherings and press confer- Hill. The 7,000-seat Grandstand and the Marketing and ences. Temporary stands also can be erected Arab Emirates Management Building were designed by HOK Sport next to the Grandstand with a capacity for Architecture, with detailed design drawings developed 35,000 spectators. by the British firm RMJM. The high-tech Marketing and Manage- The first phase, which includes the racetrack, the ment Building was the first to be completed Marketing and Management Building, and the in the $95 million complex. It is a fully Grandstand, was completed in 2006. The second phase glazed structure that includes offices and is under construction. also a function room at its top level that can accommodate 200 people. Viewing galleries The Dubai Motor City Autodrome is part of occupy most of the rest of the building. The the $4.9 billion Dubailand leisure and en- building incorporates large aluminum canti- tertainment city located outside Dubai. The levers to provide shade, and it is oriented at 345-hectare project centers on a 100-hect- 50 degrees east of north so that each floor are, 5.39 km long motor racetrack. The provides some shading for the floor below track allows for six configurations and can it from the intense afternoon sun. The ar- accommodate three racing events concur- chitects state that the Grandstand and the rently. In addition to its use for racing, the Marketing and Management Building were track also may be used by auto manufac- designed on the principle they identify as turers for product launching, testing, and that of “active balance.” Accordingly, both development. structures “appear to lean to one side to The omplexc includes supporting build- represent the excitement of motor sport as ings such as a media center, a medical if the car or motorbike is just on the point center, a control tower, a racing school, a of losing traction.” 3,000 m2 indoor recreational kart center, The second phase of the project features and a piazza that can accommodate outdoor a residential hotel, office buildings, an Auto performances. Mall that covers 6.5 hectares and consists of The randstandG is 225 m long and 32 an office tower and a showroom, and more m high. The aluminum-roofed building than 3,000 housing units occupying an area includes two seating tiers with 7,000 seats of 55 hectares. Motor City also will include in addition to nine viewing boxes at the top. a Formula One Theme Park with simula- It is located at the highest part of the site tor rides, demonstrations, a museum, and to maximize views for the spectators and retail facilities. allow them to see 50 to 90 percent of the

168 Sports Projects: Serving National Pride and Commerce Left and Below: Figures 8.3.1–8.3.3. The centers on a 5.39 km racetrack that can accommodate three racing events concurrently. Spectators can view the races from the 7,000-seat aluminum-roofed Grandstand.

Bottom Right: Figure 8.3.4. The fully glazed, high- tech Marketing and Management Building at the Dubai Autodrome features offices, a function room for 200 people, and viewing galleries. The building incorporates large aluminum cantilevers to provide shade, and its orientation and shape are configured so that each floor partially shades the floor below it from the afternoon sun. Dubai Sports The project’s four stadiums are designed by the German stadium for soccer matches as well as track firm von Gerkan, Marg und Partner (GMP). The British and field events; a 10,000-person multipur- City, Dubailand, firm Mott MacDonald and the American firm RTKL pose indoor arena for hard-court games, Dubai, United designed the two mixed-use hubs located at the ends ice hockey, and concerts; a 5,000-person Arab Emirates of the project’s canal. field hockey stadium; and a 25,000-person The cricket stadium was completed in 2009. Other parts of cricket stadium, all linked by a shopping project are under construction. mall and a parking structure for 10,000 vehicles. The project also will include train- The $2 billion Dubai Sports City is part of ing facilities and schools for various sports, the Dubailand mega-project, which will about 1,200 residences occupying an area of include five themed cities and will be twice 930,000 m2 and surrounding a golf course, the size of Disney World in the United commercial facilities, hotels, and a special- States. Dubailand is part of a plan aimed at ized sports medicine hospital. One of the strengthening Dubai’s position as a tourist development’s main features is a 1.5 km destination, for which the target of attract- canal along which a number of the project’s ing 15 million tourists was set for 2015. components are located. A main component of the 460-hect- GMP is especially known in the area of are project is a group of four stadiums: stadium design, and has designed about 40 a 60,000-person outdoor multipurpose stadiums around the world.

170 Sports Projects: Serving National Pride and Commerce Figures 8.4.1–8.4.4. A primary component of the Dubai Sports City is a group of four stadiums intended to accommodate a variety of sporting events. As is common in large-scale master planned , however, it also will include commercial and retail facilities, a large residential development, and hotels.