Completion: 2014
Design Office: SCAU
General Contractor: Bouygues Bâtiment Centre Sud-Est
capacity: 67 000
Expanded to accommodate 67,000 spectators by Bouygues Bâtiment Sud-Est, the Stade Vélodrome football stadium, legendary home of Olympique de Marseille, was officially inaugurated in 2014. A sleek-looking stadium, a versatile and highly functional amenity and a project that matches the City of Marseille’s ambitions.
In preparation for Euro 2016, which was hosted by France, the Stade Vélodrome football stadium in Marseille needed to be brought into compliance with international standards. In this renovation project, the challenge was not only to modernise the stadium and make it more visually attractive, but also to provide more comfortable facilities for spectators. The public-private partnership which included this renovation also covered the restructuration of the Stade Delort, an adjoining 5,000-seat rugby stadium, as well as a substantial property development programme for a 100,000 m2 eco-neighbourhood surrounding the stadium. This project included the construction of 600 homes, a combined student and intergenerational residence, a medical centre, two hotels, an office complex and the Prado shopping centre, which is an exemplary building in terms of environmental performance.
Unusually, the 6,000-tonne steel roof of this exceptional construction is disconnected from the concrete structure. It stands on four metal supports, which is a remarkable feat of engineering. The roof, constructed using a very strong material, protects spectators from wind, rain and sun. It lets the light through but acts as a sound barrier, reducing noise for the benefit of local residents.
The teams successfully met the challenge of running the site while the stadium was in full activity. Throughout the three years that the site works lasted, up to 42,000 spectators attended matches under the very best conditions of safety and comfort. Before each match, a methodical organisation was put in place, with the involvement of a special safety commission. On match day, Bouygues Energies & Services had fifteen or so employees on hand to deal with any incident that may arise and to ensure that the match went smoothly.
Today, the Stade Vélodrome is ranked as a 4-star stadium – the highest classification – by UEFA, Its spectator capacity has increased from 60,000 to 67,000 places, including 6,000 “VIP” seats. The expansion of the stadium has included measures to ensure greater energy efficiency: energy and water consumption have been reduced because, thanks to a thermal loop, the stadium is supplied with warm water heated by a nearby water treatment plant. In addition, three wind turbines power rainwater recovery pumps which provide water for flushing the toilets and for watering the pitch.
