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Mordovia Arena with unique structures accurately delivered for World Cup 2018

Use of BIM technologies in the steel fabrication of sports stadiums:

The Mordovia Arena built in Saransk for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia involves unique geometry and a large number of welded joints in a short timeline. Local steel fabricator Belenergomash delivered the challenging project right on time with the help of Tekla BIM software.

The stadium designed for 45,000 spectators is to be completed by the end of 2017. It will be one of the 12 stadiums hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. According to the architects’ idea, its bowl resembles a bright red sun – one of the symbols of the Republic of Mordovia. LLC Belenergomash-BZEM used innovative production, diagnostic and control technologies, including the Tekla Structures software, to help design, fabricate and deliver the stadium’s challenging steel structures on time for the construction project.

Beauty with a challenging structure

The location of the bowl above a two-story stylobate creates an effect of lightness. The base of the stadium consists of 88 G-shaped consoles of 40 meters in height, and the outreach of the structure is 49 meters. All of the consoles are made of steel pipes, thanks to which the overall weight of the coating structures is only about 6000 tons.

Steel fabrication with 10 mm accuracy

During the initial development of the design documentation, the project was finalized in the course of six months by the general contractor together with the specialists of Belenergomash for Kazan Industrial and Construction Association LLC. Belenergomash fabricates the stadium’s complex metal structures with an accuracy of 10 mm up to 60 m plus a large number of welded joints. The project schedule did not allow any delays, and the stadium structure was completed on schedule: Fabricator shipped all steel structures by March 31, 2017 – almost exactly one year after signing the contract with LLC "PSO" Kazan.

“These structures were completed on time thanks to the use of BIM and the Tekla Structures software package,” says Dmitry Dolzhenkov CAD Support Specialist Belenergomash. “BIM technology helped organize a transparent workflow and ensure productive interaction of all involved specialists. We developed technical production conditions independently and coordinated them with the design companies involved in the construction of the facility. After that, in order to prepare for the start of the project, specialists of the plant worked out the technology of assembling and welding elements on the samples for several months.”

Famous sports venues with the help of BIM

Belenergomash has been engaged in the design and manufacture of metal structures since 1973. The company uses innovative production, diagnostic and control technologies, including Tekla Structures software that has been used in the enterprise since 2008 as an important tool of the design department.

The Mordavia Arena was not the company’s first experience of applying BIM technologies in the field of steel fabrication for sports facilities. The company has fabricated various famous buildings, such as

  • The stadium of Kazan Arena for 45,000 spectators, the football stadium in the western part of the Krestovsky Island (St. Petersburg)
  • Four of the six large Olympic Park facilities in Sochi: a large ice hockey arena for 12,000 spectators, the Adler Arena skating center for 8,000 spectators, the Central Olympic stadium Fisht for 40,000 spectators and the main Olympic media center

Kazan Arena

Krestovsky Island (St. Petersburg)

High LOD matters

The choice of software can play a decisive role in the successful implementation of a project. According to Dodge Data & Analytics *, correctly selected software tools can reduce the final cost of a building project by 5% and lead to reduced completion time. At the same time, the productivity of work is increased by 25%. When constructing sports facilities, maximum accuracy is important at all stages, from the architectural to the construction site. Software with a high LOD (Level of Development) helps design the required elements with the highest level of details (LOD 500) in the model.

“Due to its capability of accuracy, Tekla software was used in eight of the twelve stadiums intended for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, including the Mordovia Arena,” says Dmitry Dolzhenkov. “The actual size, shape, spatial position, orientation and a large amount of attributive information were indicated for each element of the model. The maximum level of information helps erect the building and will also help start its operation on time.”