South Korean studio net contract to design Qatar World Cup stadium

by Kim Megson | 27 Apr 2017
View comments | Sign up for the free weekly CLADzine
The Fifth Precinct Stadium stadium is being built in Doha’s Al Thumama district / Marc Desbordes
More news

South Korean architecture studio Heerim Architects and Planners are reportedly in line to design Qatar’s 40,000-capacity Fifth Precinct Stadium, which will host matches up to the quarter-final stage at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

According to Reuters, the practice said in a stock exchange statement on Tuesday (25 April) that it has agreed a US$16.2m (€14.8m, £12.6m) design and engineering services contract for the project.

A joint venture of Qatar’s AlJaber Engineering (JEC) and Turkish construction firm Tekfen Construction was appointed to manage the project by Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy in February. It has contracted Heerim, who will work alongside local design firm the Arab Engineering Bureau.

The Korean architects have previously designed the Baku Olympic Stadium, the Incheon 2014 Asian Games Main Stadium, the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Gangneung Ice Arena and the forthcoming Uzbekistan Tashkent Multifunctional Ice Rink Complex.

The US$342.5m (€314.4m, £266.8m) Fifth Precinct Stadium stadium is being built in Doha’s Al Thumama district. It is scheduled for completion by 2020.

After the World Cup has ended, temporary seating will be removed to create a reduced capacity of 20,000, making the ground more sustainable as part of Qatar’s modular stadium legacy plans. The development will remain an important sporting hub, with four outdoor training pitches and the offices of the football association’s technical committee located alongside the stadium.

Other World Cup stadiums in the main construction stage include the Al Rayyan Stadium, the Qatar Foundation Stadium, the Lusail Stadium, the Al Bayt Stadium, the Al Wakrah Stadium and the Khalifa International Stadium.

The latter is nearing completion, with the 7,800sq m (83,900sq ft) pitch installed earlier this month in a “world record” time of 13 and a half hours by a team of 40 specialists on site.

In January, Qatar’s finance minister revealed the emirate is spending as much as US$500m (€459m, £389.5m) a week on infrastructure ahead of the World Cup.

A main contractor will be appointed in the second quarter of 2017 to build the tournament's final announced venue, the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium designed by Populous.