If today the Bari stadium, the iconic structure designed by Renzo Piano for Italia ‘90, has returned to full functionality, it is due to the work that Tipiesse carried out in the summer of 2023 to replace the canvas that cover the stands and characterize the image of the San Nicola.

The supporting structure of the upper ring consists of a timber frame of beams arranged in two directions, annular and radial. The lattice is contained in a shell composed of waves and intrados steps.

The upper ring was originally partially covered by a Teflon roof supported by a steel structure. The secondary elements are made of stainless steel. A steel tube lattice girder, serving as a maintenance walkway, connected all the main girder appendages at the top.

The stabilization of the roof was ensured by steel ropes connected by circular elements.
The original roofing of the facility consisted of 52 PTFE (Teflon) tarpaulins, of which 26 were located at the individual sectors making up the upper stands and 26 were located between one canva and another at the access stairs to the various upper sectors.
With the passage of time, various damages and tears of the canva sheets occurred.

In 2019, the Municipality, after having removed the torn sheets, proceeded to the inspection and subsequent removal of all the remaining large roofing sheets still present, given the expiry of the guarantee period indicated in the structural executive project, not exceeding twenty years, with the exception of the two sheets located at the central sectors of the West Stand intended for the Press, which were in a better state of conservation than the others.

The stadium roofing thus consisted of only two large sheets in correspondence with the press box and 26 small sheets in correspondence with the access stairs to the upper sectors.

The works of Tipiesse at San Nicola stadium in Bari

The project work involved restoring the roofing of all the upper sectors of the spectator stands (large petals) in order to guarantee the comfort and safety of the stadium’s users, in adverse weather conditions, and to restore the original overall design of the stadium, as conceived during the design phase.

The work began in June, with the laying of the aluminium profiles – pre-assembled on stainless steel collars, an operation that was gradually followed by the installation of the sheets with the help of a special site crane. Subsequently, work teams took care of the tensioning of the sheets and the welding of the flaps.

The feasibility project for the restyling of the roof included two alternative hypotheses.

The first hypothesis suggested the replacement of the damaged tarpaulins with PTFE structured on the inside with fibreglass mesh, in order to strengthen their resistance to the weather and temperature changes (estimated life 25-30 years). This proposal has on its side the high strength of the materials, but involves quite high costs.

A second hypothesis envisaged instead less resistant and durable materials but lower costs, with the use of PVC/Pvdf plastic tarpaulins (estimated duration 10-15 years).

Of the two solutions, the one chosen guaranteed a longer service life for higher-performance materials: high-quality PTFE tarpaulins with a protective fluoropolymer coating, which are highly resistant, long-lasting and have good aesthetic properties.

The PTFE membrane also has high light transmission qualities, filtering diffused natural light during the day and creating a striking architectural effect at night. Thermal insulation properties are also excellent, with a low thermal transmission coefficient.

Roof plan of St Nicholas of Bari and two sections

The work was completed at the beginning of November.

Given the great fame associated with the San Nicola Stadium in Bari, this was certainly one of the most important projects that Tipiesse dealt with, together with the Maradona Stadium in Naples, which allowed the company from Bergamo to grow further in notoriety and consolidate its presence in the world of construction with particular regard – not only – to sports facilities.

News by Tipiesse Spa

Images by Riglietti for Tsport