Client:
Tianjin Economic Development Agency (TEDA) Investment Holding Co. Ltd.

Project Duration:
April 2002–
June 2004

Contract Value:
$55 million

Parsons Responsibilities:
Conceptual Design, Final Design, and Construction Management.

Boasting the latest in stadium technology, TEDA Soccer Stadium opened in Tianjin, China, on May 15, 2004. The Parsons stadium project is one of the first in China to have a field sized to meet Federation International Football Association (FIFA), Olympic, and World Cup play. Parsons, in conjunction with architectural firm Peddle Thorp Architects, based in Melbourne, Australia; designed and built the stadium. The Parsons team also included Connell Mott MacDonald, engineering consultants from Melbourne, Australia, Page Kirkland, quantity surveyors from Sydney, Australia, and Shanghai; Tianjin Architects and Engineering Consultants; the Chinese Design Institute, and inspectors and administrative staff provided by the client.

Inside the stadium, looking from the endzone.

The completed stadium has a capacity of 35,000; most of the seating is under the roof and in the east and west portions of the stadium. The stadium provides excellent views of the playing field from any angle.

The $55-million project was awarded in two stages. The initial master plan and concept design of the stadium was awarded in January 2002, and the final design and construction management was awarded in April 2002. The soccer stadium is the first project for which a Chinese state-owned company hired only one firm–Parsons–to provide the conceptual design, final design, and construction management.

The project was built under TEDA Bidding Bureau regulations; thus Parsons was required to work under very detailed and time-consuming bidding procedures. The process included everything from visiting and vetting all potential bidders, creating bid evaluation criteria specific for each contract, performing technical evaluations, and scoring the bids for acceptability to participate in the financial bid opening. On occasion, rebids were necessary.

The stadium is a structure of curved column frames that arch round the back of the stadium seating areas and form masts above the suspended roof. The curved roof trusses are suspended by tension cables from these masts. The resulting curved shape of the stands and roof gives the complex a high-tech look. The architecture is unique and creates visual impact for the project.

Parsons designed level one of the soccer stadium to include soccer club offices, retail, players rooms, and VIP parking; levels two and four for general admission seating; level three for VIP function rooms and super boxes; and the final level encompasses the corners for plant rooms. All public concourse levels have natural ventilation. The super boxes, administration, player, umpire and official, and press areas have both heating and cooling systems.

The scope of work went well beyond the stadium design and construction. The overall project is known as the TEDA Promenades, and the master plan serves as the basis for future development of the site. Adjacent to the stadium, Parsons designed a large lagoon, which is surrounded by a walkway and elegant promenade. One of the goals of TEDA Promenades is to move beyond industrial development and manufacturing to improve the quality of life within the region. Parsons' master plan includes an 80,000-square-meter retail complex, 5,000 units of high-rise residential units, theme-park-type water features, and a sports and aquatic center. In addition, the TEDA Promenades is served by a high-speed rail station–which Parsons also designed–that connects TEDA with Tianjin.

Parsons designed a large lagoon, which is surrounded by a walkway and elegant promenade.

The complex was constructed using a 100 percent local workforce. It was the first time that many of the contractors had worked with a foreign firm, and this posed many challenges in managing the construction. These challenges included communications and mutual understanding, the requirement for international standards (as compared with local standards), work methodology, and quality control.

Safety was the number one priority: aggressive and continuous attention to safety resulted in over 10 million accident-free manhours for the project. Throughout the SARS epidemic, Parsons maintained strict health and safety conditions, which allowed for continued construction. Local officials praised Parsons' commitment to safety and its ability to provide guidelines to keep workers healthy and safe.

Tianjin is located on the Bohai Sea, 85 miles east of Beijing. Tianjin, a city of ten million people, is one of four municipalities directly under the Chinese central government.

The stadium was built for the TEDA soccer team, which plays in the Chinese Premier League. In addition to soccer, the facility supports other public and cultural events, including concerts. The Parsons team completed the project within the budget and in time to host the league opener for the 2004 season.

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