Japanese company Nikken Sekkei will continue to collaborate with FC Barcelona. The aim of the partnership is to keep the design of the stadium as planned during the upcoming redevelopment. It is expected to go into full swing after the end of the current LaLiga season.

What will Nikken Sekkei do?

A number of parties are involved in the project. A joint venture between Ingeniería Arquitectura Torrella and Ingenieros JG will take the lead on the next phase of Spotify Camp Nou upgrade. Construction work will be carried out by the Turkish company Limak Construction. But the list does not end there. Japanese Nikken Sekkei (the same company that won the competition to design the new Camp Nou in 2016 together with Pascual y Ausió Arquitectes) has also been involved in the renovation of the Blaugrana's stadium.

© Alessio Patron

According to Barça representatives, Nikken Sekkei is to oversee the work so that the 2016 winning concept can be implemented faithfully. Details of the collaboration between the companies involved in the project are not revealed. Worth noting, Nikken Sekkei boasts valuable experience in design work for football facilities. The company's portfolio includes, for example, the Niigata Stadium and Kashima Soccer Stadium used during the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan.

What will change at Spotify Camp Nou?

The winning concept for the new Camp Nou is fundamentally different from that of the previous competition (2007). The new design is characterized by spaciousness, simplicity, and elegance, and takes advantage of the stadium's location for natural ventilation and shade. As the arena will grow and the layout of the auditorium will change, the communication routes distribution will also undergo a complete redesign. The stands will offer spectators a total of 84 rows, including 25 on the lowest level, 31 on the second level, and 28 on the third level. The entire structure will be covered by a 47 000 m² membrane roof. Stadium capacity will increase to more than 105,000 seats.

The upgrade of Spotify Camp Nou is part of a wider project called Espai Barça. It also includes the new Palau Blaugrana arena and developments to the Campus Barça sports and entertainment space. Last week, the club revealed plans to repay the Espai Barça project through a €1.5 billion bond issue. During the renovation of the stadium, the Blaugrana team will play their matches at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

© FC Barcelona