Work begins on Suzhou’s SIP Sports Center

The Chinese city of Suzhou will get a multifunctional sports center by 2017. According to recent media reports, construction work on the SIP Sports Centre has started in Suzhou. The sports center in Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), designed by architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners, will combine sports facilities for large events, leisure and cultural facilities, as well as shopping and hotel functions in a publicly accessible park landscape.

The sports park – which has been jointly developed by the city and district authorities – will include a 45,000-seater stadium, an indoor pool with 3,000 seats and a sports hall with 15,000 seats. With a range of functionality beyond just sporting events, the park has been designed to ensure a permanent and sustainable flow of visitors.

All three stadiums will be topped by undulating roofs, designed to make the development visible from afar. In addition to the three sports stadia, the site features a hotel and retail center designed to harmonize with the undulating landscape. The structural engineering for the project is being done by schlaich bergermann partner (sbp).

Owing to its size and clear span of 820ft, the 45,000-seat stadium, with its covered stands, has been designed to form the focal point of the park. The indoor swimming pool, with an undulating roof shape created with a single-skin cable network construction, has been designed to combine an elegant, floating appearance with great structural strength. In addition to the competition and training pools, the swimming hall will have a spa area, leisure pools and sports shops.

The 15,000-seater multipurpose hall is planned with an eye on large international indoor sports events. It will also be suitable for for concerts, exhibitions, and other events.

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