Centro Deportivo Alfredo Harp Helú | México City, México | 2019

Architects: FGP Atelier
Design Team: Francisco González Pulido and Alonso de Garay
Local Architects: Taller ADG
Client: Alfredo Harp Helú
Project Management: ADETEC
General Contractor: TOLLAN
Photographers: Rafael Gamo
Sports Consultants: Populous
Roof Consultants: Dunn Lightweight Architecture
Structural Engineers: Werner Sobek
Landscape Architects: Environment

Centro Deportivo Alfredo Harp Helú is more than a building; it is an urban complex.

The stadium will have a monumental lightweight roof structure resembling Diablos’ trident, which drastically contrasts the predictable roof geometry that has historically defined baseball stadiums around the world.

Indicative of the sky, the roof design is sharp, translucent, luminous, and dynamic. Composed of lightweight steel wrapped in PTFE textile material, the roof will become an iconic symbol for the great City of Mexico.

In contrast to the visual lightness of the roof, the base level is ceremonial and draws from many cultural cues. Designed using local materials from the Valley of Mexico and inspired by the pre-hispanic era, the plaza level design has specific references to the court of the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame and emphasizes the connection between the earth and the heavens. The guiding concept was to establish the duality between pre-hispanic Mexico through the base and contemporary Mexico through the roof of Centro Deportivo Alfredo Harp Helú, which blends tradition, innovation, austerity, and technology into one space.

The procession from stadium grounds into the ballpark alludes to climbing an ancient Mesoamerican temple.  As the spectator approaches the grand entrance, they are confronted with six truncated pyramids cladded in indigenous volcanic rock.

Once inside, a ring connects all the seats and functions into one experience with unobstructed views to the field. 

The key goal for Centro Deportivo Alfredo Harp Helú is the vision of a great public space, where the open space is as important as the built space, which is a prominent architectural feature within Mexican culture.  Successful spaces must encourage strong social engagement, incorporate Mexican traditions, and respect existing natural conditions.  Therefore, the new stadium is seamlessly integrated into four major public spaces with very distinct characteristics.

Centro Deportivo Alfredo Harp Helú aims to reduce energy consumption, waste, and emissions. The design strives for a Net-Zero building using passive systems with minimal HVAC integration and active water reduction systems. This goal of sustainable design, including minimal ecological impact, sets a strong precedent for a new standard of building within Mexico.

Centro Deportivo Alfredo Harp Helú is more than a stadium; it is Mexico’s ballpark.  The challenge was to make the stadium a social and cultural center. As Estadio Azteca is the home of Mexican football, the architects strive for Centro Deportivo Alfredo Harp Helú to become the home of Mexican baseball. The stadium is inclusive. It is a gift from Los Diablos Rojos to the Mexican people.