S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno stadionas – design description

With the prolonged inability of authorities to deliver a new national stadium in Vilnius, Kaunas has for many years been the Lithuanian city with the largest stadium. S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno Stadionas received its current form in 1979 and in 2017 the vision of its thorough upgrade was drawn.

The plan foresees a brand new main stand in the east (filling existing gap), housing all crucial facilities and a rather modest number of spectators. The 1979-dated C-shaped concrete stands are to be rebuilt and filled in parts where the auditorium was missing. This way the stadium will grow from over 9,000 to over 15,000, ensuring Kaunas retains its status of the city with Lithuania's largest stadium.

For the first time ever, all the seats will be roofed, while the most important aesthetic element will be the facade. According to the original concept, it was supposed to be entirely covered in wood. The choice of material was dictated by the local context - the stadium is located in a forested area and the wood should naturally help it integrate into the surroundings, while at the same time looking modern. In the end, however, due to strict fire regulations, it was decided to use aluminium instead.

The redevelopment began in 2018, with Turkish company KAYI Construction as the main contractor. However, due to delays on the construction site, the city broke the contract in January 2020. After another tender, a contract to complete the works was signed with the Lithuanian company Autokausta in August 2020. The modernisation is expected to be completed in summer 2022.