1 Jul 2004
LEXAN® sheet scores at the UEFA Euro 2004™ soccer tournament in Portugal
GE Advanced Materials Structured Products’ LEXAN® polycarbonate sheet is a popular choice for stadium roofing and other associated stadium applications. One of the best and most recent examples is the specification of LEXAN THERMOCLEAR® sheet roof glazing material for six of the stadiums that host the UEFA Euro 2004™ football tournament in Portugal.
LEXAN THERMOCLEAR sheet, which has been selected as the material of choice for more than 40 stadiums across Europe in the past years, provides excellent light transmission, high impact resistance, good weatherability, and minimal maintenance requirements.
“The stadium roof glazing industry is demanding new materials with performance properties that go beyond anything currently available,” explains Damon Lavelle, lead architect of the Luz stadium project for HOK, “and LEXAN THERMOCLEAR X-structure sheet with its superior stiffness characteristics, high infrared sun ray absorption while maintaining light transmission, was the only material that supplied us with the combined properties that we were looking for the Luz stadium in Lisbon.”
The massive programme of investment and rebuilding of stadiums for the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament spans six stadiums in Portugal, including:
Lisbon, Luz stadium
Luz is Portugal’s biggest stadium with a fully covered seating capacity of 65,000 spectators. It incorporates a series of high quality facilities and has been specially designed to withstand long-term exposure to sunlight and harsh weather conditions.
GE Advanced Materials Structured Products and HOK architects had previously worked together on the Sydney Olympic Stadium project, where 27,000m² of 16mm LEXAN THERMOCLEAR sheet was used for the most challenging engineering feature of the stadium, the 300-metre span roof structure.
Porto, Dragão stadium
The opening game of the tournament was held at the Dragão stadium. It has a 50,000-seat capacity, incorporates 280 tonnes of metal in its structure and has an array of pillars to support its translucent roof. The roof incorporates 35,200m² of LEXAN THERMOCLEAR X-structure.
Leiria, Dr Magalhães Pessoa stadium
The seating capacity at this stadium has been increased from 11,000 to 30,000. The architect’s product of choice to cover this new seating area is LEXAN THERMOCLEAR sheeting and more than 10,000m² of the 25mm-thick sheet has been installed.
Aveiro, Aveiro Municipal stadium
The Aveiro Municipal stadium has been completely reconstructed in a breathtaking design to accommodate over 30,000 spectators. More than 7,600m² of LEXAN THERMOCLEAR Plus
sheet, 25mm thick, has been used to cover the complete seating area.
Lisbon, José Alvalade stadium
This new stadium has capacity for 52,000 spectators. Its modern design incorporates 9,000m² of LEXAN THERMOCLEAR sheet to glaze the roof area and provides complete cover for all seated fans.
Porto, Bessa stadium
The Bessa stadium is integrated within a sports complex that is under development. A roof covers all the seating areas and the use of LEXAN THERMOCLEAR X-structure has been able to fulfil all the architectural requirements for transparent glazing.
Long-lasting experience
More than 40 stadiums in Europe have been constructed using this LEXAN sheet portfolio of products, including no less than ten in 2003 with a combined glazing area of 100,000m² in five countries – Portugal, Austria, Slovenia, Norway and Switzerland.
Reader enquiries
GE PlasticsPlasticslaan 1
4600 AC Bergen op Zoom
Netherlands
Helen Vandebovenkamp
helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com
Tel: +31 164 29 20 97
Fax: +31 164 29 10 66
Netherlands
Notes for editors
GE Advanced Materials
GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Among its businesses are:
• Silicones, which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offers silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer (https://www.gesilicones.com/gesilicones/am1/en/home.jsp);
• Plastics is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, which serves customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (https://www.geplastics.com);
• Quartz produces high purity materials for the semiconductor, fiber optic, lamp making and water purification industries. GE Quartz is a leading supplier of quartz materials to the semiconductor industry (www.gequartz.com/en/index.htm);
• GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, media, and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming, and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
LEXAN and LEXAN THERMOCLEAR are registered trademarks of General Electric Company
Euro 2004 is a trademark of the UEFA.
Related images
GE Advanced Materials Structured Products’ LEXAN polycarbonate sheet is a popular choice for stadium roofing and other associated stadium applications. One of the best and most recent examples is the specification of LEXAN THERMOCLEAR® sheet roof glazing material for six of the stadiums that host the UEFA Euro 2004™ football tournament in Portugal.
The opening game of the tournament was held at the Dragão stadium. It has a 50,000-seat capacity, incorporates 280 tonnes of metal in its structure and has an array of pillars to support its translucent roof. The roof incorporates 35,200m² of LEXAN® THERMOCLEAR®
X-structure.
Editorial enquiries
Marianne Schouten
GE Advanced Materials
Brigitta de Vries
Marketing Solutions NV