Historic Estadio Mineirão Receives a Modern Transformation with Birdair Roof

Estadio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, Brazil has been transformed into a modern stadium with a new tensile roofing system from Birdair, Inc. The stadium recently reopened after a three-year modernization project to prepare for the 2014 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Birdair fabricated and supplied TiO2 – coated PTFE, a Teflon®-coated woven fiberglass membrane for the facility’s 136,000 square-foot tensile roofing system. Taiyo Birdair do Brazil, a subsidiary of Birdair, was responsible for installing the PTFE tensile membrane.

Listed as a national monument of Brazil, Estadio Mineirão was built in 1965 and will host six 2014 FIFA World Cup matches, including one semi-final match. The tensile roof was added to the concrete upper tier of the stadium. The stadium’s roof design complies with FIFA World Cup guidelines to provide cover for 70,000 spectators while meeting aesthetic, acoustic and environmental impact requirements.

The TiO2-coated PTFE fiberglass membrane roof provides fans with much-needed comfort and allows daylight to reach the stadium’s playing field. TiO2 (titanium dioxide) is a non-toxic and flame-resistant coating applied to the fiberglass membrane that requires less maintenance due to its self-cleaning capabilities. It is capable of withstanding temperatures from minus 100 F to 500 F and is unaffected by UV rays. The durable, long-lasting fabric membrane is waterproof and requires minimal maintenance to retain its pristine appearance.

“With the new tensile membrane roof renovation and other major improvements, Estadio Mineirão can continue its proud football tradition in Brazil,” says Tom Wuerch, Senior Vice President of Operations for Birdair. “The roof adds visual interest to the stadium while functionally offering low maintenance requirements and shade for spectators.”

Estadio Mineirão’s renovation also included lowering the pitch surface and improving stadium accessibility, among other issues, with sustainability principles at the core of all work performed. Estadio Mineirao will apply for LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. During construction, 90 percent of waste was reused. Other sustainable qualities of the facility include solar power and rainwater collection.

The 20th FIFA World Cup is scheduled for June 12 to July 13, 2014, in 12 Brazil host cities. For more information, visit: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/index.html

In addition to this project at Estadio Mineirão, Taiyo Birdair do Brasil (together with its subcontractor Birdair) will serve as specialty roofing contractor on two additional 2014 World Cup venues, specifically, Fonte Nova Stadium and Estádio Nacional.

In addition to Taiyo Birdair do Brazil of San Paulo, Brazil and its subcontractor Birdair, other members of the project team included owner: Secretaria de Estado de Planejamento e Gestao de Minas Gerias, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; architect: BCMF Arquitetos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; engineer: ENGSERJ, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; and general contractor: Consórcio Construtor Nova Arena, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

To date, Birdair has completed work on over 85 sports facilities globally, incorporating tensile architecture into a variety of single-sport and multi-purpose stadiums and arenas. Birdair combines breakthrough technologies with unparalleled experience to create structures that meet both facility and patron requirements.

Teflon® is a registered trademark of E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company, Delaware.