The futuristic project for the new Universidad Catolica stadium

Deportivo Universidad Catolica is one of the most important clubs in Chile, and in recent days, it has presented an ambitious plan for the restyling of its home stadium, San Carlos de Apoquindo. The club of Santiago de Chile, in fact, wants to make its facility the most eco-sustainable sports facility in the country and also the most avant-garde, as demonstrated by the rendering presented by the architectural firm in charge of carrying out the project, the Spanish IDOM. Works are scheduled to begin around the 2022 and completion in 2023. The cost, on the other hand, is around 30 million dollars. 

The redevelopment of the San Carlos space aims to increase the current capacity of the 14000 spectators to 20 thousand and furnish the interior spaces with new rooms for both relaxation and fan services. In fact, there are 50 VIP seats located at the corners of the plant, created behind large windows that will also include hospitality areas; always inside, the press rooms and all the spaces for the media will be expanded and, in addition, a museum will also be opened available for visits to the public throughout the week - the idea, in fact, is to make it open 7 days a week and 365 days a year. The stands will be adjusted on two levels and with used outflow spaces for spectators with a direct view of the field.

As far as outdoor spaces are concerned, however, a first major architectural revolution will be the demolition of the lighting towers, replaced by an LED lighting system, integrated into the roof of the stands (also a new element of the stadium). The coverage is a non-secondary aspect in the restyling - currently, the stadium lacks it - and in addition to protecting spectators from atmospheric problems, it will also serve to contain the acoustics of the system: on the one hand, the noise will be kept inside the structure and therefore improving its propagation; on the other hand, its impact on the external environment will be minimised. This will also be done thanks to the new external walls composed of windows and a split entry system on several levels. 

Being in the Los Cades district of Santiago de Chile, a quiet residential area, surrounded by a park with various sports fields, the reduction of environmental pollution is one of the objectives of the new plant, as well as energy saving and optimization of consumption. In fact, the new San Carlos wants to be one of the most futuristic plants in South America and, in the Chilean context, the best for sustainability and progress. The club in Santiago, one of the most prestigious clubs in Latin America, owns the gaming facility and, if the implementation times are respected, will make its stadium available for the 2023 Pan American Games. We talked about what are the best stadium restyling in the world. Perhaps, in 2023, the San Carlos de Apoquindo can also be attentive.