New Datong Sports Park win for Populous

International architect Populous has been selected to design a new sports park in Datong, Shanxi Province, China, its second major sporting venue in the country.

The sports park will includes a 30000 seat stadium, an 8000 seat arena, a 1500 seat natatorium and a multiuse training hall and is part of a larger plan by Datong's mayor to regenerate the historic old city and create a new city centre with other large-scale urban development projects, including a city hall, museum and convention centre.

The inspiration for Polulous' design, said Populous principal Andrew Colling, comes from the surrounding Yungang Grottoes or Cloud Ridge Caves.

"These shallow caves just out of Datong are symbolic of the rich cultural heritage of the region, which has evolved over several thousand years. The visitor approach and entry to the stadium is like entering the nearby caves, with the sandstone bases clad in a series of irregular titanium shells," said Mr Colling.

Populous' previous sports hub in China, a sports park in Nanjing, was completed five years ago and won an International Olympic Committee/International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) Gold Award. It was built for the 2005 China National Games and was the catalyst for a major city centre development.