Fully automated field change solution at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium
Madrid, Spain
Best project, specialized construction
Presented by Tendon mobility
Owner: Real Madrid C.F
Leading design company | Civil, structural and MEP engineer: Tendon mobility
Contractor: FCC construction
Sener Mobility’s Hypogea retractable system for underground storage of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium’s natural grass football pitch is a key component of its renovation and team owner Real Madrid’s vision to transform the iconic venue into a multi-purpose “destination” in the heart of the Spanish capital, says the project’s author.
“To achieve this, it is not enough to carry out a reform that simply improves the facilities”, explains César Quevedo, general director of mobility at Sener. “The project had to go further.” The patented automated system can quickly and safely move the field, called a “pitch” in European football, to an underground storage space by repositioning the trays that divide the playing area into sections. An advanced maintenance system preserves the quality of the turf with lighting, irrigation, ventilation, heating and drainage underneath, while the upper space is converted for non-football events.
Photo courtesy of Sener Mobility
The excavation, which reached depths of 25 to 30 meters, required the installation of concrete retaining walls and retaining structures to maintain soil stability and prevent displacement that could compromise the integrity of the stadium and surrounding buildings, says the team, which also highlights a continuous monitoring system with sensors to record vibrations, settlements and ground movements in real time.
The retractable field project was “always very well received by the party [Real Madrid] who understood that, along with the retractable roof and the rest of the renovation… the stadium could host all kinds of events while still being compatible with sports activities,” says Quevedo, crediting the collaboration for the success of the project, which met budget and schedule milestones.
“Given the high complexity of the project, which involved virtually all disciplines of engineering and architecture, a team was assembled consisting of the best specialists in each field,” he says. “It is a space designed to face the most demanding challenges of the present and the future.”
