When building stadiums, planners are increasingly taking advantage of the benefits offered
by membrane architecture, enabling the creation of new and modern forms. Two well-known examples
are the Olympic Stadium in Berlin and the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town.
The framework conditions for the new roof of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin placed considerable
demands on the architects, as the roof had to remain within the footprint of the existing
grandstand structure, which is listed as a building of major historic interest. At the same time,
supports and masts should restrict the view of the spectators as little as possible. More difficult
still: the new roof had to be installed without the need to cease operation of the stadium. A light
steel cantilever arm construction was selected for the roofing around the circumference of the
stands, with an opening above the historic Marathon Gate. This also means that the line of sight to
the green of the Maifeld and to the bell tower – so important to the conservationists – is
preserved. 132 external supports and 20 slim boom supports in the upper stand area, with a diameter
of 250 mm at their base, bear the majority of the weight of the steel structure of the apparently
"floating" roof. The company Hightex GmbH in Rimsting – a specialist in the area of textile
architecture – covered the upper side of the support structure with 27.000 m² of woven glass fiber
membrane distributed over 77 individual sectors. The membranes consist of woven glass fiber fabric
coated with 3M Dyneon PTFE and 3M Dyneon Fluorothermoplastic, which exhibits tensile strength of up
to several tonnes per square meter whilst weighing only one to one and a half kilograms per square
meter.
The Green Point Stadium in Cape Town was newly built for the 2010 Football World Cup. In this
case, a multifunctional arena was created with a spectator capacity of 68,000 seats, all offering
the best-possible view. The flowing facade of the stadium consists of an abstract, light membrane
structure consisting of extensive concave elements. The translucent surface absorbs and reflects
daylight in a unique fashion: at sunset the stadium shimmers with a reddish light, which turns blue
on summer days and gray during unfavorable weather conditions. The wave-form roof was clad with
composite safety glass and covered on the interior with a translucent membrane skin. Technical
elements such as sound equipment and lighting could be integrated between the glass cladding and
the membrane. Verseidag Indutex GmbH in Krefeld, a company specializing in textile architecture,
supplied the textile load-bearing structures made of duraskin® membranes. Various coating processes
on different carrier and coating materials result in optimum protection, similar to a second skin.
The duraskin® membranes also consist of glass fiber textile material coated with Dyneon PTFE and
Dyneon Fluorothermoplastic, which exhibits tensile strength of up to several tonnes per square
meter and only weighs between one and one and a half kilograms per square meter.
The coating provides the membrane with the features that are decisive for robust use in stadium
construction: the surface of the coating is very smooth and is permanently resistant even to
extremes of weather – as long years of experience in different climatic zones testify. In addition,
Dyneon PTFE is resistant to virtually all chemicals and exhibits good mechanical characteristics. A
major advantage of PTFE coatings is that they do not require softeners or stabilizers, which can
evaporate over time, leading to embrittlement of the coating. Membranes coated with Dyneon PTFE and
Dyneon fluorothermoplastic remain smooth and elastic, offering no cracks where bacteria or molds
can gain a foothold, even after several years. And even after many years in position, a shower of
rain is generally sufficient in order to clean the roofs. The translucency of the fabric guarantees
optimum lighting conditions for spectators and players during daylight.
About Dyneon
Dyneon, a 3M company, is one of the leading fluoropolymer manufacturers in the world and is
represented in more than 50 countries. The company, headquartered in Oakdale, Minnesota, USA,
employs more than 700 people worldwide.
About 3M
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative
products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M´s core strength is applying its more than 45 distinct
technology platforms – often in combination – to a wide
array of customer needs. With $23 billion in sales, 3M employs some 75,000 people worldwide
and has operations in more than 60 countries.
3M and Dyneon are trademarks of 3M Company. Duraskin is a registered trademark of Verseidag
Indutex GmbH.
