Singapore National Stadium & Sports Hub

A Moveable Roof Made of Texlon^® ETFE

Singapore National Stadium, also known as Singapore Sports Hub, is an excellent showcase of Vector Foiltec’s turnkey design and build approach. Spanning 312 meters, it is the largest free spanning dome in the world. The central opening section consists of two parts, each covering an area of almost 10,000 m². As the roof moves around the surface of the dome, from closed to open position, the supporting structure of the moving sections is designed with flexible connections, allowing the structure to deflect and deform under the action of gravity.
Vector Foiltec’s early involvement enabled the development of a unique custom-built Texlon^® ETFE cladding system. Connected to the moving structure on sliding bearings, this system is able to absorb and accommodate all differential movement that could occur in the structure below.

Local Climatic Conditions

Local climatic conditions not only dictate basic design loads, but also the performance of the building materials themselves. So, Vector Foiltec managed the differentials between the required internal conditions and the external environment during the design process of this impressive moveable roof.

Shading and Lighting Effects

Additional light or projected images are ways that ETFE can help create a unique atmosphere for any structure. ETFE has properties that make it more flexible as a construction material, and as a medium for dynamic illumination. Most importantly, almost any size or shape is possible. A truly gigantic project: The Singapore National Stadium aka The Sports Hub. The Texlon^® ETFE system creates one of the largest LED displays in the world.

Benefits of Using ETFE as a Building Material

By including a Texlon^® ETFE roof, the owner benefits through lower operational costs, especially energy costs. Cooling, or heating, depending on local environment, is more efficiently achieved because Texlon^® ETFE cladding can be adjusted to local climatic conditions. At the same time as being a physical protection from the elements, Texlon^® ETFE can be engineered to provide natural light and heat in the proportions required by the building’s users.
Furthermore, the use of Texlon^® ETFE helped reduce the overall weight of the roof and subsequent steel tonnage required, and consequently had a huge impact on the overall carbon footprint and energy consumption of the stadium.

Moveable Roof

The movable roof had to take Singapore’s tropical climate into account, and following extensive testing, a new print pattern was designed. This not only helped reduce solar gain and provide shade, but also paved the way for optimal projection and illumination of the spectacular roof at night by using low wattage LED lighting.