Cadmus Supports Brazilian Stadium, Projected to be First LEED Platinum World Cup Venue

Waltham, Mass., June 5, 2013—Brazil’s new Estadio Nacional de Brasília Mane Garrincha, expected to become the first Leader in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-certified FIFA World Cup venue, officially opened on Saturday, May 18, after more than two years of construction. The Cadmus Group, Inc. (Cadmus) is working closely with partner EcoArenas, LLC to provide LEED consulting and certification management services for the 70,000-seat stadium, which will host the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in June and will serve as one of the prime venues for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Cadmus supports green building design and consulting firm EcoArenas in delivering the LEED Platinum certification for the project. The LEED certification process is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2014.

“It is incredibly exciting to be a crucial part of this historic project,” said Ian Kline, Cadmus president and CEO. “The stadium is a shining example of how LEED can be applied and is feasible for all building projects, regardless of size or complexity. Cadmus is proud to provide LEED consulting for projects such as this worldwide.”

The stadium, in Brazil’s capital city of Brasília, will feature a rainwater harvesting and reuse system, water-saving plumbing fixtures, LED lighting and a 2-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Potable water consumption will be reduced by more than 80 percent, a particularly significant consideration during Brasilia’s four-month dry season. A breathable façade provides ample ventilation in the main concourses and into the seating bowl, improving thermal comfort.


The site will feature habitat restoration with native plantings and improvements to pedestrian access. The stadium’s location in the center of Brasilia allows for bike valet parking for 3,500 bikes inside and around the facility—unprecedented bike parking capacity for a stadium. Because more than 50% of emissions related to stadium operations are related to fan transport to and from the event, the design team felt it was critical to provide alternative, emissions-free transportation options.

The Estadio Nacional project will be the first net-zero energy stadium in the world and a net energy producer. While the solar photovoltaic (PV) system is estimated to produce 2.8 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, the project is only expected to use approximately 2 million kWh per year; the remaining renewable energy produced will be given back to the city of Brasília.

Although work continues on the stadium in preparation for the World Cup in June 2014, it will host the Confederations Cup on June 16, 2013. The facility was designed with legacy operations in mind and will continue to be used as a sports and entertainment venue after the World Cup.

Alan Scott, a principal in Cadmus’ Built Environment Division, and Karen Blust, an associate, are leading the Cadmus team. The project’s architects, Vicente and Eduardo Castro Mello of Castro Mello Arquitetos of Sao Paulo, are the grandson and son of famed Brazilian sports architect Icaro Castro Mello, who designed the previous stadium that Estadio Nacional de Brasília Mane Garrincha replaces.

Ian McKee, EcoArenas founder and Director of Sustainability for the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia, said, “LEED certification of stadiums for the 2014 Brazil World Cup is a herculean effort and is forcing major changes in design and construction considerations in Brazil and for event organizer FIFA. Pursuing LEED Platinum for the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia has become an absolute mission for the design team and we are fortunate to have Alan Scott’s steady hand through the certification process. Our hope is that the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia in particular, and all of the stadiums in Brazil collectively, can serve as a model for green building in Brazil and future sporting events around the world.”

About The Cadmus Group, Inc.

Cadmus is an employee-owned consultancy committed to helping our clients address complex challenges by applying diverse skills and experiences in a highly collaborative environment. By assisting our clients in achieving their goals, we create social and economic value today and for future generations. Founded in 1983, we leverage exceptional expertise across a staff of more than 400 professionals in the physical and life sciences, engineering, social sciences, strategic communication, architecture and design, law, policy analysis, and the liberal arts who provide an array of research and analytical services in the United States and abroad.

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