Parametric Definition of Lansdowne Road Stadium

This case-study focuses on the new Irish National Stadium being constructed on the site of the historic Lansdowne Road Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Due to the complex free-form nature of the architecture and the highly constrained urban setting, a parametric approach has been adopted. Early collaboration between the architects (HOK Sport) and the engineers (Buro Happold) resulted in a single parametric model being developed which was capable of generating both a complex geometric form and an innovative structural solution. The parametric modelling environment used was Bentley’s Generative Components, and it was customised to link directly with a structural analysis package and to carry out panelisation studies. This allowed a fully parametric design process to be implemented, from architectural design, through structural analysis and optimisation, to manufacturing and construction of the façade. This documentation of the project provides insight into the implications of a parametrically enabled and integrated collaboration between architect and engineer on a complex large scale project.