Birdair engineered, fabricated and oversaw the installation of the cable structure and fabric roof for the 53,000-seat South American stadium. It features 312,545 square feet of tensile roof utilising Birdair’s steel cable systems and PTFE, a Teflon-coated woven fiberglass membrane.
The fabric is designed to be capable of withstanding temperatures from minus 100 F to 450 F. It claims to be immune to UV rays, and is waterproof and flame resistant. The PTFE fiberglass membrane covers the seating area, providing patrons with shade and protection during events. The fabric membrane also claims to be durable, long-lasting and needs minimal maintenance to retain its clean look.
The main roof structure was formed using tensioned steel cable hoops at three different levels, along with vertical columns, diagonal cables, and ridge cables to accommodate the unconventional geometry of the stadium. This prestressed tensegrity design features a figure-eight-shaped central opening that claims to resist global distortion using tension which makes the roof deck extremely stiff.
The roofing retrofit began in February 2010 and was completed in March 2011. the project team consisted of engineer Weidlinger and Associates from New York and general contractor Astillero Rio Santiago, from Ensenada, Argentina.
La Plata Stadium was opened in 2003 and was designed by architect Roberto Ferreira in conjunction with Weidlinger Associates. It is one of the premier venues for football in South America. The stadium will also be one of the host venues for the 2011 Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America.
