Elegance Made of Plastics

Rugby and football enthusiasts at Dublin's new Aviva Stadium may find their attention focused on the structure instead of the score. The 50,000-seat arena that replaces Lansdowne Road Stadium is due to open in the summer of 2010. The stadium's transparent, curvilinear roof and walls are constructed from SABIC Innovative Plastics' tough and virtually unbreakable Lexan Exell D polycarbonate sheet. The material adds incredible elegance, high performance and environmental benefits. By allowing daylight to stream into the stadium, the material helps to reduce energy usage; sensors keep artificial lighting turned off when there is sufficient natural light.