Home / Sports / Aircraft Parts Build Strasbourg Stadium Stand
Aircraft Parts Build Strasbourg Stadium Stand
25 Nov
Summary
- Decommissioned aircraft form sunshades on Strasbourg's South Stand.
- The stadium renovation is a world-first use of aircraft in design.
- Populous, known for Wembley, leads the £160m project.
The Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg is being transformed in a £160 million project led by architects Populous, renowned for designing iconic venues like Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A unique, world-first feature of the renovation involves using decommissioned Airbus 340 aircraft parts to construct the sunshades for the modernized South Stand. These aircraft components were installed in October 2024 as part of the stand's redevelopment, which will include a five-storey atrium with new fan amenities.
The project aims to increase the stadium's capacity from 26,000 to 32,000 spectators. Beyond the South Stand, plans also include the development of a fan zone, the first of its kind at a French stadium. The North, East, and West Stands will also undergo redevelopment. Construction began in 2022, with a final completion date yet to be announced, marking the most significant upgrade to the stadium since the early 1980s.
Populous has a strong track record in stadium design, having also been involved in Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Qatar's Lusail Stadium. Their work on Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a £1 billion project, is particularly celebrated. The Strasbourg renovation is being undertaken while the team, owned by the BlueCo group, is performing well in Ligue 1, currently sitting fifth in the table. The club has played at the Stade de la Meinau since its opening in 1914.
