The roof reflects the majority of the radiant heat

A special additive in the plastic keeps the spectators cool despite the summer heat. This additive reflects the majority of the radiant heat from natural sunlight, but still allows the visible part of the light to pass through. As a result, the air mass in the stadium does not heat up as much. Another advantage of the plastic sheets, which have additionally been given a scratchproof finish, is their machinablility. "They can be sawed, drilled and cut without problem. They are also breakproof, which, together with their low weight, makes handling very much easier during assembly," says Schwarz.
Equally impressive is the procedure used for the construction of the stadium. So as not to interrupt the building work, the two halves of the roof were assembled separately next to the stadium. Once the main bulk of the work in the stadium had been concluded, the two 8,500 ton structures were each maneuvered hydraulically on to the stadium on sliding blocks using a special track-mounted system. Finally, the polycarbonate sheets were bolted into place.
The stadium with the "Calatrava Dome" (as the roof is called locally) will be the venue for all the track and field events, the men's soccer final and the closing ceremony. The stadium owes its name to Spyridon Louis, the Greek winner of the Marathon at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.

Leverkusen, 2004-08-13