A soccer stadium has received the 2005 China Construction and Engineering Luban Award, - the most prestigious award in China's construction industry.
Recipient of the award was the United States-based engineering firm Parsons Corporation, which in conjunction with Australian architectural company Peddle Thorp designed and built the $55 million TEDA Soccer Stadium.
The stadium was built for the TEDA (Tianjin Economic Development Area) soccer team, which plays in the Chinese Premier League. The facility is also designed to accommodate other public and cultural events, including concerts.
Design Director Peter Brook congratulated Parsons Corporation on the achievement and looked forward to working with it on future working partnerships.
“It's one of the first stadiums in China to have a field sized to meet Federation International Football Association, Olympic and World Cup play,” he said.
Mr Brook said the stadium had a landmark design that included state of the art facilities for players, spectators, officials and media.
“The stadium profile has been designed to achieve excellent viewing lines to the playing area,” he said.
“The design represents an expression of the latest technology in services, architecture and engineering and the stadium may well be used in the forthcoming Olympic Games.
“This work represents the type of value adding that Australian companies should be focussed upon.
“Interestingly, we have now imported the ideas developed for the stadium back to Australia and they have been used at a major AFL stadium in Geelong.
Mr Brook said the practice took the concept of the curved support trusses and adopted a more refined and sophisticated version of these to Skilled Stadium.
“Our experience has shown that this curved structure is the most efficient way to support the cantilevered roof used at the arena.
“By working in the demanding environment of China, we are improving our own core business at home.”
The stadium is a structure of curved column frames that arch around the back of the stadium seating areas, forming masts above the suspended roof.
The curved roof trusses are suspended by tension cables from these masts. The resulting curved shape of the stands and roof gives the complex a decidedly high-tech look.
Peddle Thorp now employs more than 100 people in its office in Shenzen.