DOHA: FIFA World Cup venue Stadium 974 has achieved a five-star rating under the Global Sustainability Assessment System, the Qatar News Agency reported.
The 40,000-capacity venue was built with prefabricated and modular steel elements which reduced construction time as well as waste generated.
Efficiency methods ensured that the football ground cut its water use by 40 percent compared to a conventional stadium development.
Under the rating system, administered by the Gulf Organization for Research and Development, Stadium 974 received a five-star GSAS design and build classification and category A* construction management grading.
Rating certificates were presented to executives from the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) — who have been leading preparations for Qatar 2022 — at a special event on Monday. Committee attendees included deputy director general, Ghanim Al-Kuwari, sustainability executive director, Bodour Al-Meer, facilities management director, Mohamed Al-Atwaan, and sustainability communications manager, Jassim Al-Jaidah.
Al-Kuwari said: “Sustainability has been the primary focal point with Stadium 974. To receive top GSAS certification marks from GORD is further confirmation of our efforts to establish new, sustainable concepts of stadium design and construction that we hope will be adopted worldwide.
“Stadium 974 is also a proud example of the legacy we intend to leave from Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup,” he added.
As the first-ever FIFA-compliant stadium that can be fully dismantled and re-purposed post-event, 974 sets new standards in the building and usage of sustainable venues.
Al-Meer said: “By achieving these high ratings, our efforts in making Stadium 974 a reality is truly rewarding for everyone who was part of this unique project from the beginning.
“Stadium 974 will always be synonymous with our sustainability targets for the FIFA World Cup and beyond,” he added.
Al-Jaidah said: “We thank all our contractors and stakeholders, including the stadium management team, for helping us to make Stadium 974 become a proud symbol of our sustainability objectives. This award is an important recognition of our goals to stage a carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup.”
And Al-Atwaan said: “This is a great achievement for everyone that has worked on this project and made it a reality. We look forward to welcoming football fans from around the world when Stadium 974 plays host to matches during Qatar 2022.”
GORD’s founding chairman, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, said: “In meeting top GSAS standards, Stadium 974 has shown itself to be a remarkable achievement in sustainable design and construction.
“We congratulate the SC for taking the concept of building a fully-demountable stadium and turning it into an example of outstanding green building practice.”
He added that while FIFA requirements saw obtaining four stars as sufficient, the SC went beyond that and obtained a five-star rating for most World Cup stadiums.
Stadium 974 will host seven matches beginning with Mexico against Poland on Nov. 22.
The eight stadiums hosting matches during the World Cup have also achieved a minimum four-star rating under GSAS.
