20 minute read
Recovery after the pandemic
from sb 2/2022 (english)
by IAKS
RECOVERY AFTER THE PANDEMIC ACCELERATES NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC APPROACHES
The pandemic-related access regulations and closures affect user behaviour and the operation of stadia and arenas. What new technologies and socio-economic approaches are emerging for future operations? What changes will stadia and arenas have to face in the medium and long term? What does this mean for facility design? The IAKS expert circle „Stadia and Arenas“ has investigated these issues. They analyse which infrastructural tasks stadia perform in the urban context, call for their expansion to include mobility hubs, open spaces and spatial design, see potential in air-quality and hygiene standards, and point out the opportunities for collecting and using data. Inspiration from Australia, Europe, South Africa, and North and South America.
Harald Fux, Architect, CEO of Raumkunst Sportarchitektur, Austria Gustavo Amaral, PhD Researcher and Instructor, School of Architecture | Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
The role of stadia in the urban environment is core of Harald’s and Gustavo’s discourse. The two experts discuss recreational & pedestrian public use, open space use and strategic infrastructure position for emergency use.
Sporting events attract hundreds of millions of people each year. To host these events, every year new large-scale sports venues are designed and built to meet the demands of an ever-evolving sports industry. Many of these facilities are often planned as cultural and economic backbones of the communities in which they are located, with the expectation that architecture and urban design can potentially lead to the creation or regeneration of entire neighbourhoods. However, at this point it is largely accepted by specialists that the investment in sports infrastructure alone is not a guarantee of successful social and economic redevelopment. In reality, in the face of the social unrest and public health crisis of our time, the urban integration of stadia and arenas has become one of the most important factors when it comes to these venues. Socio-economic impact Sports venues can help create dynamic, mixed-use environments that yield tremendous economic dividends, community benefits and real estate opportunities and – most importantly – provide communities with a building typology that becomes fundamental in emergency scenarios: impacts that extend far beyond the typical revenue analysis. In effect, the analysis of contemporary urban stadia projects necessitates the study of questions related to the city of the future: the impact of new building technologies in shaping how mega-projects are built, how climate change will shape the character of urban life and the infrastructure that supports it, and the socio-economic implications of all of these factors combined.
Importance of strategic urban integration The COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on the sports and entertainment industries highlighted the importance of strategic urban integration, as most of these isolated stadia and arenas became useless buildings, while other facilities, better integrated within the urban network,
Photos: Stadt Wien
The transformation of stadia and arenas into emergency hubs, supporting the efforts to alleviate the stress put on health network systems, was a common pattern observed in different parts of the world.
became valuable public spaces, as they were used as outdoor places where people could remain active practising sports while obeying the social distancing rules. Besides the use of stadia, large outdoor spaces, the pitch, stands and concourses – due to their weather protection – also have the potential to be redirected to accommodate other functions where large spaces are needed.
Sports facilities as emergency infrastructure However, the transformation of stadia and arenas into emergency hubs, supporting the efforts to alleviate the stress put on health network systems, was a common pattern observed in different parts of the world. During the last decades, sports facilities have been used as emergency facilities in several different occasions, especially with the proliferation of climate-related disasters. However, in a pandemic-hit world this important role has become more evident as sports facilities throughout the globe have been transformed into temporary treatment locations and lately into vaccination centres, demonstrating the capacity of these large buildings to become a strategic infrastructure in the efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a new era of climate emergency, it is plausible to think that the perception of stadia and other sports facilities as emergency infrastructure will only increase. Besides accommodating large numbers of spectators in moments of celebration, these buildings will have to feature the spatial configurations to be transformed in emergency centres in times of crisis.
Consider connection to infrastructure in design process When thinking of sports buildings as a city emergency infrastructure, the location of these facilities becomes a fundamental aspect. The connection of sports venues with other city networks is a key aspect that will transform these buildings into a valuable asset, able to accommodate large numbers of people within a space that is easily connected to other networks, such as transportation, health facilities, emergency services and to a large diversity of other uses and functions.
Most significant changes With the lessons learned from the recent pandemic and extreme climate disasters, it is clear that the incorporation of many types of big-data analyses and urban-science parametric models will incrementally become an important part of the design and management process. Designers and facility managers will have to develop a deeper understanding of how stadia, once built, can potentially become a relief to its urban environment in times of social crisis.
A robust data-driven design practice aligned with a new understanding of stadia’s role in the urban environment may represent the most significant changes in this building typology in recent years. The design of stadia will be increasingly aware of the notion of infrastructural ecology, with stadia being designed to be a strategic part of the region’s urban infrastructure ecosystem. In effect, cities, as well as human behaviour, are susceptible to drastic change in times of climate emergency and, for this reason, the design of future large-scale and symbolic buildings like stadia should anticipate it and plan for it.
THE SOCIAL VALUE OF SPORTS EVENTS
Al Baxter, Senior Principal, Populous, Australia
As we look to the future of trends of stadia and arena planning, we can thankfully say that it appears the pandemic has not impacted people wanting to come together and, at least in the short term, likely had the opposite effect. In his statement, Al points out the benefits of having crowds (and players) back in stadia.
COVID has thrown up many uncertainties for live sport venues and none more serious for those involved in the design and operations of these buildings. There was a risk the pandemic has caused a fundamental cultural shift in people no longer wanting to attend these venues. Thankfully, as we move out of the pandemic and spectators have been allowed back to live sports and events we have seen a renewed enthusiasm for people wanting to be together again. Football venues in the UK, collegiate stadia in the US and the cities in Australia hosting the AFL Grand Final are all examples of where fans have flooded back into venues when given the opportunity.
The impact of live crowds at these events cannot be underestimated. For spectators, being able to attend a game with fellow fans is an important social outlet and can provide a sense of community and belonging; for sports clubs, their funding and ongoing commercial viability is almost always underpinned by gate receipts and food & beverage sales at games and, for the players, their individual and team performance is directly impacted by the presence (or lack) of a crowd in support or opposition.
FROM TRANSPORT HUBS TO SEATS
Ruben Reddy, Director, Ruben Reddy Architects, South Africa
Based on his experience during the FIFA World Cup in 2010 in South Africa, Ruben brings up some thoughts related to the user journey to, from and within the stadia.
Urban integration / Transport hubs Stadia should be viewed as social infrastructure that may be used on non-match days for public recreation. The security cordon should come into force on match day minus one or two depending on preparation requirements. The safety standards of public transport should mirror that of stadia. There should be a direct and controlled route from transport hubs into the stadia precinct to prevent contamination after screening.
Tracking the fans as they arrive This was used quite successfully by South African Host Cities during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The systems have been updated and have a wider city reach for all events including recreation access to areas like parks and beaches at coastal cities. Pressure points are identified, and release infrastructure is put in place to prevent bottlenecking and static fans. Fans are encouraged to constantly be moving towards their seats. The conditions of the pandemic will result in reduced fan entertainment and engagement at access points, which used to be a positive attraction.
Access points / Crowd movements Access points to the stadia precincts would need to be re-examined to move people faster into and out of stadia. Each event would be different, and bespoke solutions per event need to be prepared. Pinch points and other obstacles should be eliminated. It is assumed that existing CCTV technology should be supplemented with additional technology.
During the FIFA World Cup in 2010 we used simulations technology to simulate crowd movements. Seating simulations and ticketing tools for controlled spectator seating and attendance proved their worth. The current evacuation times are sufficient to move people in and out of the seating bowl and do not need adjustments. However, the overall access and evacuation plans should include movement from transport hubs to seat and back to transport hub. Transport planners and authorities need to perform a key role in the preparation of the plan.
STADIA AS CATALYSTS FOR MOBILITY CHANGE
Javier Dávila de Eusebio, Business Development Manager Sports Architecture, IDOM, Spain
The pandemic has shown our cities from a different point of view, one that we had never seen before: empty streets, closed facilities, and then gradually a move to regain the use of those public spaces among restrictions of many levels.
The reconquering of these spaces brought an interesting move: with fewer cars in the city, due to remote working and restricted activity, urban spaces were claimed by pedestrians for recreational use and personal transportation. There was an actual return to use of the urban city centres in a way long forgotten with intensive pedestrian use. Stadia that are integrated in the urban fabric should become a key beacon of that pedestrian use, and become more permeable, opening their boundaries for public use as a continuous space from the surrounding urban areas. Reasons for reducing individual transportation The increase of individual transportation is effectively signifying a change of habits which is closely linked with global sustainability approaches. While social distancing encourages individual transportation, it is also true that contamination has been proven to multiply the effects of the COVID-19 virus affecting the respiratory system. Reducing emissions becomes the key factor. A cultural change to reduce private transport is starting, with activities initiated in many large cities around the world.
Stadia should reflect that change and become transport hubs, supporting and enhancing the interchange of light public transport, shared transportation and sustainable individual mobility. This will change the way we consider parking spaces, with bicycle / individual parking where we have always considered car parking, and a certain integration of light public transport in those spaces always reserved for individual cars in the past.
SAFE, SECURE AND CONNECTED
Agustin Garcia Puga, Architect, CEO of AGP Arquitectura +, Argentina
Future access control and security systems will combine the control of the health and legal status of each person who wants to attend an event (considering COVID vaccination or whatever arises in the future, legal impediments or restrictions).
In Argentina, operators are currently working with two apps. One app indicates with a QR code if somebody has a COVID vaccination history and the other app indicates if there are any legal restrictions for access. The future is to turn the two apps into one to facilitate access control.
Stadia access control In terms of access to the stadia, some clubs are testing biometric facial recognition systems. Photos of all members need to be uploaded. The intelligent system quickly recognises faces from the database, even with the use of masks.
Monitoring and video surveillance room The monitoring and video surveillance system of the “La Bombonera” stadia, home of CA Boca Juniors, is comprehensive. It consists of 58 fixed cameras, 16 domes and eight pan-tilt cameras. The technology is IP, which makes it possible to increase the resolution of the transmitted signals.
The system is a video wall integrated by nine screens with the possibility of using four main monitors plus an auxiliary one with up to 16 signals for each one. Monitors have 4K definition.
Cardio-protected stadia The Argentine Cardiology Foundation (FCA) has declared the Boca Juniors’ stadium to be cardio-safe. Staff and tooling provide medical care to anyone with a heart disease in less than three minutes. This time slot will determine the possibilities of resuscitation.
Wifi connectivity The state of Wifi connectivity in Argentine stadia is improving. Boca Juniors has placed 300 access points to improve the wireless network and record championship-holder River Plate has placed 500 access points. Each access point provides connectivity to 200 spectators, precisely what the clubs are looking for: for a good-quality connection for their thousands of spectators and other attendees. This helped them to stay in touch with the public after the closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
AIR QUALITY AND HYGIENE ROUTINES FOR HEALTHIER VENUES
Colleen McKenna, Sports + Rec Practice Leader, Principal, CannonDesign, USA
The pandemic has shown us just how important it is to prove that our facilities are safe places and are not contributing to the spread of infectious outbreaks. Many have perceived large venues as potential super spreaders, and building managers want to ensure the safest and healthiest environments to welcome spectators back.
In response, the conversation has focused on increasing the quantity of outdoor air, supply air, and return / exhaust air as much as possible. Strategies include active and passive ventilation that capitalizes on air movement throughout the various levels within the seating bowl along with opportunities to provide additional ventilation directly below the seating itself. The result can require more energy, which can increase operational costs and have long-term impacts on the environment (especially in existing facilities). Incorporating sustainable measures to reduce energy consumption such as demand-based ventilation systems or capturing solar energy are critical to any solution.
Indoor air quality Other strategies to manage indoor air quality include ultraviolet light or bi-polar ionization technologies within HVAC systems that can improve the air quality by suppressing airborne contaminants. Cloud-based indoor-air monitoring systems allow building managers to respond to poor air quality in real time. There is still a larger question around player and spectator health. As emissions and air pollution rise there is growing concern in regard to the impact on the high-performance athlete. There is a heightened awareness of air quality due to the pandemic, but the bigger issue may ultimately be about climate change. On the way to cleaner and healthier venues Before the pandemic, public restrooms, for example, never used to receive the attention they deserved during an event. Now there is a greater need for visible cleaning procedures and protocols which may permanently raise the expected health and cleanliness of spectator venues – for the better. This is likely a combination of the frequent cleaning of hightouch surfaces during events, such as turnstiles, restrooms, door handles and the pre- or post-event cleaning of larger surface areas such as seating, railings and team rooms. Newer sanitization technologies could be automated with fogging / electrostatic spraying machines or sanitizing spray drones. We may see a time where facilities can be programmed to disinfect at specific times around events, leading to cleaner and healthier venues.
Touchless ticketing and pick-up Regardless of the frequency, there is a shift to replace hightouch surfaces with touchless or motion-activated products. Not only does it reduce the transmission of germs, but it creates a better spectator experience. Contactless payments and digital ticketing were already becoming commonplace before the pandemic, and now at least 14 Major League Baseball teams are cashless this season. The food & beverage industry has already revolutionized contactless pick-up which reduces product handling and transmission. It is impossible to completely avoid touching surfaces in any venue, although progress can still be made with improved sanitization to ensure that venues are being maintained at a higher level of cleanliness while creating a better spectator experience.
FLEXIBLE SPACE CONFIGURATIONS AND OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES
Mike Trice, Senior Principal, Populous, UK
One of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future design of stadia is the development of flexible spaces that can be adjusted and reconfigured in response to changing guidelines and regulations, to enable the stadia to remain open and operational, but taking account of the need to provide healthier internal environments.
Flexible space can be sub-divided or opened up to respond to changes in social distancing / capacity restrictions. This includes the opportunity to provide large, open-plan hospitality lounges with sliding / folding doors and walls that can be used to re-configure space to adjust capacities to meet any social distancing requirements. The specification of moveable furniture that can also adapt to changes in layouts and adjust to any social distancing requirements will also be helpful in maintaining the flexibility of layout and use.
Natural ventilation in hospitality spaces with operable windows encourages the movement of fresh air. This is a move away from the traditional approach to hospitality spaces which are often designed as sealed and conditioned spaces. The introduction of operable windows and the ability to introduce natural ventilation and the movement of fresh air throughout hospitality spaces will help to dilute any airborne viruses.
In-bowl hospitality spaces are created in the outdoor air of the seating bowl, but would sit underneath the main stadium roof, providing a new type of spectator experience with food and drink served into “in-bowl” locations, enabling spectators to be provided with hospitality services while still enjoying the atmosphere of being within the seating bowl.
Hospitality and concourse spaces can further expand onto outdoor terraces and spaces where people could gather in the outdoor air, as part of their match-day experience. This could include options for covered outdoor spaces that could give a greater degree of weather protection to spectators.
A wider range of outdoor hospitality areas could include outdoor fan zones and sponsor-activation areas that engage spectators outside the stadia but are directly connected to hospitality and concourse spaces to provide quick access into and out of the seating bowl. These spaces could also include pop-up food & beverage units designed for outdoor spaces, which could change between events to provide variety to the food & beverage offer.
NEW FRONTIER FOR DATA COLLECTION
Gustavo Amaral, PhD Researcher and Instructor, School of Architecture | Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
As new modes of data become available, designers involved in the construction or renovation of sports facilities can benefit from broader data structures and data analysis, using this understanding to address complex questions, such as what types of design strategies allow stadia and arenas to become a central element in a dense, diverse and active urban ecosystem, or how effective is the building’s special organization in matters of sustainability, and fan general experience.
In the age of data, many opportunities emerge for designers and operators to explore the potential of information technology, data analytics and machine learning algorithms when it comes to the interpretation of space. However, two key issues pertaining to data-related models need to be addressed: the continuous growing size of datasets and the increase of data complexity. spectator accessibility, vendor selection and sales prediction as well as monitoring social distancing, patterns of movement and health protocols are complex matters that can potentially be addressed by the implementation of these technologies.
As an example, the internal space of these buildings can be translated into a graph-like structure, defined by nodes and edges connecting them, where nodes represent significant locations in the spatial organization of the building, such as restrooms, bars, points of access, retail and personal hygiene stations. Once located, sensors and other types of technology will collect data that will become an attribute of its corresponding data-base node, transforming the internal space of the facility into a live data model that is updated at each event, allowing facility architects, engineers and facility managers to extract a new level of intelligence from the venue space and to make better-informed decisions in future interventions in new and existent facilities.
Big data requires technology integration The scenario described above highlights the importance of a high level of venue technology integration through the venue’s entire lifecycle. In effect, in a data-driven design process, technology integration starts early in the design phase. This need for integration makes it possible for designers to explore the potential of Building Information Models (BIM) in the development of data-driven methods. For example, a graph database can be integrated with BIM technology, allowing designers to use the architecture model during the design phase to define the placement of data collection devices, the respective nodes and consequently the configuration of the building data analytical model that can be of immense value for clients and operators.
Graph databases as suitable systems In the age of information, the development of methods to collect and interpret spatial data has become a new territory to be explored by place-making professionals. Under this condition, graph databases are an example of emergent technologies that have been implemented by designers and facility managers in order to manage information with spatial data of a graph-like nature.
Graph databases are suitable systems that can be used by place-making professionals on the design of digital platforms that model spatial problems, offering important insights about complex building questions in different situations and contexts. Digital marketing, energy performance,
SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK
Javier Dávila de Eusebio, Business Development Manager Sports Architecture, IDOM, Spain
We can rest assured after this analysis that live events will not disappear in the COVID aftermath, as they play a key role in our society’s behaviour. If anything, the pandemic standstill and the recovery from it have accelerated the application of certain trends on venue features that were already happening or about to happen, such as the wider implementation of renewable energy systems in stadia design, including energy collection systems and energy storage systems to be used in the more daily-use spaces of our venues such as the retail areas. our cities; with an eye on the creation of urban emergency infrastructures.
Important trends:
• incorporation of transport hubs into our venue designs to relate to the urban environment and its sustainable development;
• latest technology applied to safer access and control of crowds;
• shift in logic to allow design to replace high-touch surfaces with touchless design and technologies;
• technological leap to make data analytics a key element of venue design and operation, to identify complex spatial conditions and lead to more effective design solutions;
• the key flexible-use features that will improve the usability of these large venues in the years to come.
The entire ecosystem of professionals involved in the design and operation of stadia and arenas are recognising these trends and requirements, if only partially. And we are experiencing truly interesting times to make our best common effort to bring together all this knowledge into the stadia and arena design of the post-COVID era.
Some other operational issues have also been the focus of attention and development for their impact on health, such as waste management, high-efficiency ventilation systems and advanced cleaning procedures throughout the facilities. Operations have also stretched their focus to the perimeter of these venues, where there is a recognition that the attention to fan engagement at access points is an important aspect not to be neglected.
These matter-of-fact aspects have been complemented with new perceptions that create the future trends to be considered in the years to come after the pandemic in stadia and arena design: The urban integration of stadia and arenas as creators of huge community benefits that need to be gathered, measured and optimized with a robust data-driven design practice for strategic implementation in
