PTFE Membrane-Structured Sports Center Integrated into the Landscape

The Xiangyang National Fitness Sports Center is located in the Dongjin New District of Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, China, with a total construction area of approximately 137,000 square meters. The complex includes a standard 33,000-seat Class B medium-sized stadium featuring a nine-lane, 400-meter international-standard track, a natural grass playing field, and a standard swimming pool. Supporting facilities include athlete check-in areas, officials’ and media rooms, athlete lounges, VIP boxes, spectator restrooms, and commercial amenities. As the largest public sports facility in Xiangyang and a designated backup venue for the Hubei Provincial Games, the project significantly enhances residents’ access to fitness and recreational resources, generating substantial social impact.

Low-Carbon and Sustainable Design Requirements

To address the high energy consumption typical of large sports venues, the design adopts an energy strategy of “passive priority, active optimization,” aiming to achieve low-carbon, low-energy, and low-water consumption objectives. The team developed a BIM model for integrated design optimization; employed Ladybug simulations to refine the roof geometry, ensuring 100% shading coverage for spectator seating; utilized XFlow wind tunnel analysis to mitigate airflow impacts on the field; and applied Radiance simulations to optimize the number, size, and distribution of roof light tubes, increasing indoor natural day lighting by 26%. Overall energy savings exceed 78%.

 The membrane materialused in stadium roof structures is flexible, making it far more adaptable in form compared to conventional building materials. This flexibility allows designers to integrate architectural concepts with the surrounding environment and contemporary urban landscapes, enabling the creation of large-span stadiums with expressive, layered, and highly distinctive forms.

The PTFE membrane roof gently diffuses daylight into the arena, creating layered patterns of light and shadow. Its semi-transparent canopy reduces the structure's visual mass, blending it with the skyline and conveying lightness and fluidity. While allowing sunlight to filter through, it effectively shields the venue from wind and rain, enabling uninterrupted events and a comfortable spectator experience.

The architectural layout responds to the existing waterways, using elevated and perforated elements to blur its boundaries. The structure seems to float above its base, merging with the park and evoking a dynamic experience amid lush hills and water.