A new landmark for Brazil’s Mato Grosso State, the Arena Cuiabá project was created with educational as much as recreational purposes in mind.This LEED-certified football stadium, designed by GCP Arquitetos, incorporates state-of-the-art insulation technology, rainwater harvesting mechanisms and native plant species of the Atlantic and Amazon Forests. Adapting to Cuiaba's high temperatures and humidity, the project introduces sustainability to “the most important of unimportant things in the world.”
The Arena is completely modular by design. Its structure is made of precast concrete and a modular steel roof. The roof is composed of a steel deck layer covered by thermal insulation with a condensation barrier and a top TPO membrane finishing. The whole building can be dismantled and reassembled to facilitate smaller events following the 2014 World Cup.
The open corners enable extensive cross-ventilation of the main terraces level. This positive impact is augmented by including patches of greenery and a waterproof PVC membrane combined with wood louvers. In order to reduce water consumption, rainwater is collected and used for football pitch irrigation, toilets and air-conditioning. Integrated, these systems will significantly reduce the energy consumption of the building.
In addition to hosting the World Cup, the new stadium will encourage the urban development of the Cidade Alta neighbourhood in Cuiabá. The aim of the project is to create a focus of attraction in a region that can evolve into an economically and environmentally sustainable tourist destination.