Central Stadium for Winter Olympics 2014

Buro Happold
  • Central Stadium for Winter Olympics 2014 arial CG
  • Central Stadium for Winter Olympics 2014 inside
  • Central Stadium for Winter Olympics 2014 plan
  • Central Stadium for Winter Olympics 2014 side CG
  • Central Stadium for Winter Olympics 2014 stair entrance CG

1 / Introduction

Developing a truly successful stadium design involves meeting a number of goals beyond simply creating a first class sporting arena. The list of additional demands for the main stadium for the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics includes a legacy, which includes participation in another global sporting event – the Fifa World Cup – and spearheading a drive for a level of sustainability not seen before in Russia. This building is intended to have three lives: an Olympic stadium, a winter home for the Russian national football team when temperatures in Moscow see the turf freeze, and a venue for the 2018 World Cup Finals.

Key facts

  • Main stadium for 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics
  • Sustainable design that sets a benchmark for Russia 
  • Specialist lighting design creates ultimate viewing experience

Related Disciplines

The Project Details

  • Client:
    Olympstroy/Engeocom
  • Architect:
    Populous
  • Buro Happold services:
    Buildings service engineering, structural engineering, ground engineering, lighting and acoustic engineering, SMART solutions, people movement
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2 / Challenge

The brief from the Organizing Committee Sochi 2014 required a 40,000 capacity stadium that will be a showpiece building in which to host the opening, closing and medal ceremonies at the games. In addition to its aesthetic qualities, performance of the stadium is also vital, as well as meeting the demanding sustainability targets set for all Olympic events.

3 / Solution

To create the awe-inspiring centrepiece that the client required, the stadium is topped by two spectacular half-shell structures covered with translucent polycarbonate tiles. Its sweeping form responds to both the costal and mountainous surroundings, resulting in an iconic structure for the region. 

Ensuring that the quality the environment is exceptional for spectators was essential in designing the stadium. Due to the shape and height of the roof, simply attaching lights to its perimeter would not have adequately lit people on the pitch, so a steel structure just to hold lighting has been incorporated into the structural design. To ensure all spectators have an exceptional experience when visiting the arena, the design of the acoustic environment within the bowl was worked on by our specialists.

4 / Value

With sustainability a key issue for organisers of both the Olympics and the World Cup, our engineers are helping Russia meet these exacting demands, in some of the most high profile events on the planet. Work on the stadium will also put Sochi in a prime position to host World Cup Finals football in 2018.

Thanks to Buro Happold’s experience in both the sports sector and sustainable design - and not least the work on the London 2012 site infrastructure - our sustainability experts have also been tasked with providing advice on ‘greening’ several new build projects in Sochi, including the athletes’ village, a hotel and railway station.