With a total project cost of $400 million, the Donbass Arena was designed by an Arup Sport team led by J Parrish, drawing on expertise from across the company – architectural design, building services, structural and geotechnical engineering.
The stadium will be used during the 2012 UEFA European Football Championships, jointly hosted by the Ukraine and Poland. First conceived as a project in 1999 by Shakhtar Donetsk FC’s owner Rinat Akhmetor, work on it began in 2003, with the appointment of Arup to design the stadium.
The arena has a distinctive, jewel-like shape, and is surrounded by a 24,000 square meter glazed façade, which imparts it a diamond-like look. Its unique soaring roof was partly a solution to the geotechnical challenges of the four mines and two fault lines in the area.
The arena meets FIFA and UEFA standards and safety requirements. It has seating for 50,000 along with first-class media and VIP stands. The stadium bowl was designed to maximize the atmosphere for match attendees and to allow all spectators the best possible view of the pitch.
The stadium and roof were carefully designed to fit in with the natural landscape and the development that has also included $30 million investment in the surrounding park. The roof of the stadium slopes from north to south, matching the landscape and optimizing the natural light and airflow, shading and heating, to create optimal conditions for maintaining the quality of the pitch.
Designed with regards to the legacy of the 2012 tournament, the arena is flexible to serve the needs of local residents throughout the year. Beside sporting events, the venue will also host concerts and shows, it has several cafes, and a restaurant, as well as a club museum and brand shop.
