As the first world-class stadium to be built in the City of Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium presents Birdair with another unique opportunity to showcase the architectural and aesthetic capabilities and advantages of lightweight long-span tensile architecture. As roofing sub-contractor for the 50,000-seat venue, Birdair’s project role includes design, engineering and construction of the tensile roofing system, as well as erecting 2,400 metric tonnes of roof girders.

With a design rivaling that of acclaimed athletic venues around the world, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will enjoy a variety of aesthetic and functional benefits due to the incorporation of a tensioned membrane roofing system.

Aesthetically, the roof’s open look will resemble a sunflower when viewed from above, complementing the diverse natural beauty of the surrounding Port Elizabeth. Approximately 230,000 square feet of fabric membrane comprised of PTFE (or polytetrafluoroeethylene which is commonly know by the brand name Teflon®) coated fiberglass will form the undulating roof design.

Architect: GMP Architect, Berlin, Germany
Engineer: Schalich-Bergermann & Associates (Stuttgart, Germany)
and Grinaker/Interbeton JV (South Africa and Holland)