April, 18, 2013 - Brazil is getting ready for the FIFA World Cup 2014 and Bayer Material Science is playing its part. Bayer´s transparent Makrolon® polycarbonate solid sheets will provide reliable roofing material for the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, protecting 70,000 spectators from the elements. With Makrolon sheets®, the internationally renowned team of architects gmp from Berlin will create a beautifully shaped, safe and long-lasting stadium roof in cooperation with Castro Mello Arquitetos, São Paulo.

The new football stadium has arisen, phoenix-like, from the ashes of the former Mané Garrincha Stadium. This involved lowering and reducing the size of the playing field. The removal of the old running track brings spectators closer to
the game so they can have a better view of what's happening on the pitch.

In the planning of a sports stadium roof, many different requirements must be taken into consideration, such as safety, weather resistance, transparency, economic feasibility, and, last but not least, an attractive design that fits into the overall setting of the stadium and its surroundings. Bayer claims that Makrolon® has all the properties to fulfill this balancing act.

The polycarbonate sheets are sturdy, highly impact-resistant, and break-proof. The Makrolon® UV 2099 grade used here has a UV coating on both sides that remains in place after being processed by cold-bending, and even after many years of weathering. The Estadio Nacional has a circular suspension roof with a clamshell structure that is kept in place by a concrete thrust collar.

UV protection from the Brazilian heat

The weather in Brasilia alternates between heavy rain and bright sunshine, therefore a material with high weather resistance is required in order to protect spectators and players from the sun and the rain. The polycarbonate sheets have a light transmission of 82%, ensuring optimum natural light for healthy turf growth.

About 110 tonnes of Makrolon® UV 2099 with 12 mm thick sheets, each more than 10 metres long, are being manufactured for the inner roof ring of the double-leafed suspended roof. This approximates to about 7,500 m² to be covered with the solid sheet material.

The stability and high level of impact resistance of the solid sheets, together with their relatively low weight compared with other materials, means that no costly substructure is required. Furthermore, the easy processing of the sheets, which allows direct handling on-site, makes Makrolon® UV 2099 an economical and logistically perfect solution.

The Estadio Nacional continues the long list of projects in recent years where Makrolon® has been used in sports arenas for major international events, including the roofs of the stadiums in Shenyang and Tianjin for the Summer Olympic Games in 2008, the Arena Legia in Warsaw, the PGE Arena Gdansk for UEFA Euro 2012 and National Arena Lia Manoliu in Bucharest.

With its attractive roof architecture the future Estadio Nacional is a suitable addition to the outstanding urban architecture of Brasilia, shaped by architects such as Oskar Niemeyer, the only city created in the 20th century that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Source: Bayer Material Science / Photo credits: gmp · Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner / Rendering: Björn Rolle, Berlin.