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| Iraq |
| Iraq Building Big-Time Sports Facilities |
| 2012-05-29 |
| The Al-Menaa complex is the second of three 360 Architecture sports venues in Iraq. The first project in Iraq is the $700-million, two-stadium Basra Sports City, set for completion late this year. The third is the 30,000-seat Al-Najaf stadium in Al-Najaf, which is trailing Al-Menaa. The 65,000-seat Basra stadium project was prompted by the selection of Iraq to host the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations soccer tournament. The Basra, Al-Menaa and Al Najaf projects are part of a national program, led by the Iraq Ministry of Youth and Sport, Baghdad, to build a network of athletic facilities. The goal is to build 30,000-seat stadiums in each of Iraq's 18 provinces. Currently, there is an estimated $1.5 billion worth of sports construction in Iraq. In each province. I like that. For the design team, security and safety aren't the only issues that distinguish the project. Not much has been built in Iraq in about 40 years. The Ministry of Youth and Sport itself is only about 10 years old. Government tendering is also a "growing process, which is pretty fragile," says the architect. For example, the stadium is designed to international codes and standards. When the project began, Iraq had no building code. The design team submitted a list of international codes that would be used and got approval for their application on the project. Soon Iraq will have a giant bureaucracy to develop and administer codes! |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #6 No building codes, therefore no competent engineering or building inspectors. What could go wrong? And then there is the issue of the Israeli cement... |
| Posted by: manversgwtw 2012-05-29 18:49 |
| #5 Both probably. |
| Posted by: Recneck Jim 2012-05-29 16:06 |
| #4 Sports stadiums or large-scale detention facilities? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2012-05-29 15:51 |
| #3 Yeah, but with all that oil revenue they shouldn't have to borrow the money from the Chinese. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2012-05-29 15:20 |
| #2 Soon Iraq will have a giant bureaucracy to develop and administer codes! Posted by:Bobby Mlle. Sophie Neveu, estranged granddaughter of the late Grand Master Jacques Saunière should be able to assist with the more challenging codes. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-05-29 14:03 |
| #1 Bread and circuses. Stuff people NEED... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2012-05-29 10:44 |