HUBLOT LOVES FOOTBALL METAVERSE STADIUM | SPATIAL IO

The GeorgiaWorld Congress Center Authority and Atlanta Falcons worked toward an agreement for a new retractable roofstadiumtobebuiltontheGeorgiaWorldCongressCenter campus. Scheduled to open for the 2017 NFL season, the new stadium will serve as the home of the Atlanta Falcons in addition to other sports, convention and entertainment events currently held at the Georgia Dome and other new marquee events that could be hosted in the future. Personal responsibilities on the project included: working with colleagues to develop a parametric model that was used to design the overall expression of the exterior skin and retractable roof system, programming, exterior renders for client presentations, Revit modeling and documentation, diagrams, analysis of building systems, and the development of the parametric bowl builder in Grasshopper.

Perched on the edge of a cliff, the stadium celebrates its context and the magnificent scenery of Qiddiya like no other venue in the development can. It engages visitors and spectators through provocative and playful forms, drawing them to the cliff’s edge and framing the spectacular views. The 3-sided seating bowl surrounding an“infinity-edge”pitch and the open-air design of the structure are intended to capture the scenery of the valley below and heighten the dramatic effect of the sporting and other events taking place.

The views are further accentuated with the View Concourse, a walkway that slopes down toward the edge that is clear of walls and other obstructions. Spectators descend toward the valley and the view as they make their way to their seating. Everything about the stadium circulation brings you to this moment of the view and the splendor of the place.

The design of the stadium takes its cues from the highest ideals of Qiddiya itself as symbolized by the logo’s “inspirational bubbles”. These colorful, 2D circles, representing a “youthful personality” and “an inspiring, happy place to fulfill ambitions”are re-imagined as life-sized and larger-than-life 3D bubbles that not only give form to the space of the venue and provide shelter, they elicit emotion as well.

The cladding bubbles are an innovative, high-tech adaptive solar shading skin for the building. Each bubble has a transparent outer fabric with an inner layer that changes it is opacity to provide shading. When programmed collectively, the bubble shades can track the movement of the sun to ensure continuous shading to all portions of the seating over the course of an event. And likewise, they can remain transparent to allow sunlight to all portions on the pitch over time as well. The bubbles draw on existing technologies that are either utilized together for the first time or combined in a unique way. An anti-static coating on the ETFE inhibits dust accumulation. The inner “smart film” layer changes opacity with a low voltage electrical charge. Integrated LED lighting allows for changing colored lighting. An electronic control system utilizing AI allows for multiple opportunities for programming the adaptive skin.