ETFE makes Beijing Olympic stadium a reality

Without a lightweight, versatile new roofing material, the futuristic designs of the main stadiums for the 2008 Beijing Olympics would not have been possible

Will Beacham/London

FOR UK architects Arup, who were part of the winning team that designed the lead stadiums for China’s Olympic games, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) gave the flexibility to make daring designs, including what will be the world’s largest building made of the product.

This plastic weighs less than 1% of an equivalent-sized glass panel and covers an area of 100,000m2 (9,300ft2) at the National Aquatics Center (the Water Cube) as well as providing the roof cladding for the Bird’s Nest, the main athletics stadium.

ETFE is strong, lets in more light than glass and is self-cleaning with every rain shower. It is also a better insulator than glass and resistant to ultraviolet light damage.

This plastic will also help cut energy use at the Water Cube. The building will trap 20% of the solar energy falling onto it to be used to heat the pools and interior. Arup says this is equivalent to covering the entire roof in photovoltaic panels.

ETFE was used for the UK’s Eden Project environmental education center, the world’s largest user of the product. Around 20,000m² is also found at the Tropical Island, Brandenburg, Germany.

Vector Foiltec manufactures ETFE as Texlon, which is being used in the Water Cube. DuPont manufactures the product under its Tefzel brand, while Asahi Glass Company makes Fluon.

NATIONAL STADIUM, THE BIRD’S NEST

Contains 36km (22.3 miles) of unwrapped steel lengths

ETFE panels on upper surface, acoustic layer on lower surface

Gross floor area: 254,600m² (835,088ft²)

Seating capacity: 100,000

Height: 69.2m (226.4ft)

Cost: $500m (€365m)

Source: Arup

THE 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS

Athletes: 10,708

Gold medals: 302

Journalist/broadcast staff: 17,600

Volunteers: 70,000

Competition venues: 37

Takes place: August 8-27, 2008

Source: Official Beijing Olympics website http://en.beijing2008.cn

NATIONAL AQUATICS CENTER, THE WATER CUBE

Contains 4,000 ETFE bubbles, up to 7.5m (24.6ft) wide

Gross floor area: 70,000m² (753, 000ft²)

Seating capacity: 17,000

Building dimensions: 177m x 177m x 31m

Wall cavity: 3.6m deep

Cost: $100m (€72.8m)

Source: Arup

ETFE BUBBLES: THE FACTS

Cover 100,000m² (9,300ft²) – the largest ETFE structure globally

Originally developed for the aerospace industry