Built with 12,600 Tons of Steel: New Mega Stadium Surrounded by Living Trees
A historic milestone has been reached at the Serbia National Stadium in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, which is under construction and set to become the world's first 'garden stadium' upon completion. The first major steel lifting operation of the colossal structure, which will utilize 12,600 tons of steel, has been successfully completed.
Defying traditional stadium architecture and poised to make groundbreaking strides in landscape engineering, the Serbia National Stadium is emerging with a design unlike anything ever seen in the world of sports.
The steel skeleton of this colossal arena, which will be entirely clad with living trees, shrubs, and green spaces instead of concrete or glass facades, is beginning to take shape.
What sets this stadium apart from all its global competitors is the striking feature of four-story vertical garden rings encircling it. These immense terraces are not supported by the conventional vertical columns or giant pillars. Instead, they appear to be floating around the stands, positioned through a complex network of steel cables, utilizing a suspension engineering system that is rarely seen in the world.
This ingenious design harbors a colossal amount of engineering calculation behind it.
Chinese engineers are bringing this suspension system to life, calculating not only the weight of the colossal steel structure of 12,600 tons, but also the weight of tons of soil to be placed on the terraces, irrigation water, and trees that will grow and become heavier over the years.
This dream project rising in the Surčin suburb of Belgrade, Serbia, did not come to life easily. Initially proposed in 2013, the stadium was postponed for a full decade due to debates over renovating the existing facilities of the Red Star or Partizan clubs and the intervening pandemic.
Delays, coupled with the project's transformation from a standard arena into the "world's first garden stadium," have skyrocketed the costs.
The budget, which was initially projected to be 250 million euros in 2013, has quadrupled to reach 1 billion euros (approximately 6 billion R$), financed by the Serbian government.
Behind this mega project stands the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), one of the world's largest construction companies. Accompanying CSCEC, who is responsible for design, production, and steel assembly, as the main contractor is another Chinese giant, PowerChina.
The decision of Serbia to opt for Chinese companies for this massive budget project is interpreted as the most tangible evidence of Beijing's growing economic and infrastructural influence in the Balkans.
Opting out of European funds with their stringent political conditions, Serbia, a non-member of the European Union, is bringing this investment to life by considering the financial alternatives offered by Beijing.
The foundation of the stadium, which was laid on May 1, 2024 and is planned to be completed by the end of 2026, marks a turning point in Serbian sports history. Currently, there is not a single stadium in the country that simultaneously meets the strict standards of both FIFA World Cup and UEFA continental competitions.
Once this green arena with a capacity of 52,000 is completed:
This is set to become the permanent new home for the Serbian National Football Team.
It will pave the way for the country's future candidacies to co-host the European Championship or World Cup.
Giant clubs like Red Star and Partizan will have the opportunity to play their home games in the advanced stages of the Champions League in this new arena, which meets UEFA's elite standards, rather than their current inadequate stadiums.
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