Espai Barça: A year of intense work

The mandate of the members was very clear at the start of April 2014. Espai Barça was approved in a referendum and, the following day, work began on creating a technical team that would create a project on schedule to transform all of FC Barcelona’s facilities in Les Corts and at Ciutat Esportiva.

A year later, the objectives and deadlines are being met. In March of last year, with the approval of the Town Hall of Sant Joan Despí, the green light was given to increase the surface area by 26% to boost the Estadi Johan Cruyff project.

The next step in planning matters will be to present the project proposal document to the Barcelona City Council, which was agreed between the technical teams of the Club and the council after meetings held over the last nine months. In this process, the Club counted on the participation of experts such Garrigues law firm, BCA (architecture) RACC, Promoacsa, SGM and architect Juan Pablo Mitjans.

TECHNICAL WORK

Over the past few months, there have been a number of technical studies to accurately specify all the necessary requirements of the architectural teams which will be presented to the next international competition for the New Camp Nou and the New Palau.

These technical studies hold the primary objective of carrying out the program within the €600million budget approved by the members, to carefully control the construction schedule, between 2017 and 2021, and to minimize on-site risks.

THE CAMP NOU FRAMEWORK

Among the technical work undertaken is the scanning of the entire installation which makes it possible to create a ‘BIM model’. This incorporates all information about structures, facilities and materials necessary to manage and perfectly plan the construction process, for maximum control of costs and more efficient management of the New Camp Nou’s future maintenance.

Among other things, this BIM model allows for far greater precision in the quantification of materials needed for the construction and to simulate alterations during the construction process such as, for example, matters relating to visibility and safety. Altogether, it is estimated that it could result in a 20 per cent saving during the construction, a reduction of energy costs and a 15 per cent annual saving in management and maintenance.

SIX TYPES OF ROOFS

Another type of technical work which is being undertaking is the study into different types of roofs which could be used to cover the stadium - a fundamental part of the project as it accounts for 15 per cent of the total budget of the new ground. Therefore, six different types of roofs have been analysed for which could be best adapted to the Camp Nou, including detailed costs, in order to include them in the competition. Among other aspects, the protection of the spectators, the impact on the pitch, comfort, air flows, and the possibility of including solar panels have all been studied.

OTHER STUDIES

In recent months, plans have been developed for a functional programme, with reports and detailed plans of all the requirements of different uses for the facilities. A topographical study has been made, with coves at different points of the installation to check the condition of the structure of the stadium and to study the fitting of the new structure with the current one.

A comprehensive geotechnical study has also made it possible to analyse the land underground, with 34 soundings up to 40 meters deep, which revealed the exact strength of the land.