Kaohsiung Stadium, the main venue of the 2009 World Games, made its spectacular debut in July 2009. Designed by Toyo Ito & Associates, one of the top architects in Japan, and Ricky Liu & Associates from Taiwan, the stadium can hold 45,000 spectators.
In addition to its eye-catching, horseshoe-shaped appearance, the building is the first stadium in the world powered by solar energy, and has been awarded the “Green Building Certification” by the Taiwan authorities.
Search for an effective panel fixing solution
In order to maximize the natural daylight, 8,844 solar panels were strategically mounted around the roof of the stadium. The solar panels generate more than one million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, which supports approximately 80 percent of the stadium’s energy needs. To achieve this success, architects and contractors needed to resolve a series of technical issues related to the built-in panels. The job required an effective panel fixing design with optimum energy transfer rate, plus excellent thermal and weathertight performance.
Four-sided structural sealant glazing saves the day
Dow Corning was consulted from the very beginning of the project, and ultimately recommended using four-sided structural sealant glazing to bond the glass solar panels to aluminum sub-frame. This approach maximizes the daylight exposure and hence the generation of clean solar energy by the solar modules. Each unit of the roof façade system has three glass panels, including two solar glass panels (containing solar cell and low-iron glass panels) and one blue tinted tempered glass pane. Dow Corning 983 Structural Glazing Sealant was used for bonding the solar panels and weatherproofing.
Key Participants
Construction Office, Public Works Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government
Toyo Ito & Associates
Ricky Liu & Associates
Fu Tsu Construction
Delta Electronics Inc.
Dow Corning - Silicone Sealant ProviderProducts
Dow Corning 983 Structural Glazing Sealant
With the proven, silicone-bonding technology, the structural silicone not only helps this horseshoe-shaped solar roof building withstand earthquakes, acid rain, typhoons, humidity and extreme heat and UV radiation, but also improves its thermal and acoustic performance by continuous and effective sealing the facade. Dow Corning provides a complete solution, including high performance sealants and professional technical support, which ensures correct sealant application and long-term performance.
Leading the way for more BIPV success
The Kaohsiung World Games Main Stadium was the first 4-sided structurally glazed BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaic) roofing project that Dow Corning participated in Greater China. It is one of the largest BIPV projects in Greater China. Dow Corning silicone structural sealants allow creativity and design freedom, combined with lower life-cycle cost and improved thermal and acoustic performance of the facade. Dow Corning structural glazing sealants are now widely used in major BIPV facades in China, including the 2010 World Expo China, National Pavilion and Theme Pavilion.
Click here to view a short animated presentation about how Dow Corning solutions and support helped to create this revolutionary solar-powered stadium.
Or, to learn more about the Dow Corning products featured in this case study, as well as our many other proven materials for the construction industry, please click here. To speak to your nearest Dow Corning representative, visit dowcorning.com/ContactUs. +
Related Stories
| Feb 11, 2011
Apartment complex caters to University of Minnesota students
Twin Cities firm Elness Swenson Graham Architects designed the new Stadium Village Flats, in the University of Minnesota’s East Bank Campus, with students in mind. The $30 million, six-story residential/retail complex will include 120 furnished apartments with fitness rooms and lounges on each floor. More than 5,000 sf of first-floor retail space and two levels of below-ground parking will complete the complex. Opus AE Group Inc., based in Minneapolis, will provide structural engineering services.
| Feb 11, 2011
Four-story library at Salem State will hold half a million—get this—books!
Salem State University in Massachusetts broke ground on a new library and learning center in December. The new four-story library will include instructional labs, group study rooms, and a testing center. The modern, 124,000-sf design by Boston-based Shepley Bulfinch includes space for 500,000 books and study space for up to a thousand students. Sustainable features include geothermal heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting, and low-flow plumbing fixtures.
| Feb 11, 2011
Green design, white snow at Egyptian desert retail complex
The Mall of Egypt will be a 135,000-sm retail and entertainment complex in Cairo’s modern 6th of October district. The two-story center is divided into three themed zones—The City, which is arranged as a series of streets lined with retail and public spaces; The Desert Valley, which contains upscale department stores, international retailers, and a central courtyard for music and other cultural events; and The Crystal, which will include leisure and entertainment venues, including a cinema and indoor snow park. RTKL is designing the massive complex to LEED Silver standards.
| Feb 10, 2011
7 Things to Know About Impact Glazing and Fire-rated Glass
Back-to-basics answers to seven common questions about impact glazing and fire-rated glass.
| Feb 10, 2011
Medical Data Center Sets High Bar for BIM Design Team
The construction of a new data center becomes a test case for BIM’s ability to enhance project delivery across an entire medical campus.
| Feb 10, 2011
Zero Energy Buildings: When Do They Pay Off in a Hot and Humid Climate?
There’s lots of talk about zero energy as the next big milestone in green building. Realistically, how close are we to this ambitious goal? At this point, the strategies required to get to zero energy are relatively expensive. Only a few buildings, most of them 6,000 sf or less, mostly located in California and similar moderate climates, have hit the mark. What about larger buildings, commercial buildings, more problematic climates? Given the constraints of current technology and the comfort demands of building users, is zero energy a worthwhile investment for buildings in, for example, a warm, humid climate?
| Feb 9, 2011
Hospital Construction in the Age of Obamacare
The recession has hurt even the usually vibrant healthcare segment. Nearly three out of four hospital systems have put the brakes on capital projects. We asked five capital expenditure insiders for their advice on how Building Teams can still succeed in this highly competitive sector.
| Feb 9, 2011
Businesses make bigger, bolder sustainability commitments
In 2010, U.S. corporations continued to enhance their sustainable business efforts by making bigger, bolder, longer-term sustainability commitments. GreenBiz issued its 4th annual State of Green Business report, a free downloadable report that measures the progress of U.S. business and the economy from an environmental perspective, and highlights key trends in corporate culture in regard to the environment.
| Feb 8, 2011
AIA names 104 members to College of Fellows
The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.
| Feb 4, 2011
President Obama: 20% improvement in energy efficiency will save $40 billion
President Obama’s Better Buildings Initiative, announced February 3, 2011, aims to achieve a 20% improvement in energy efficiency in commercial buildings by 2020, improvements that will save American businesses $40 billion a year.
