The new Oran stadium and sports complex is a challenge in itself and more particularly for its unsung hero, Christian Bonnaud associate architect at ORIGIN.

The new Oran Stadium is the keystone of an ambitious program spanning over an 100he site dedicated to sports and wellness. It is also the first of a new generation of large sports campuses being planned and developed throughout Algeria. Our team was selected in 2005 both for the master plan design of the stadium complex as well as our capacity to enrich the brief. The future complex presently under construction will include a 40 000-seats multisport stadium, a 5 000-seats athletic stadium, swimming complex, indoor sports arena, tennis club, velodrome, professional sports training school, accommodations and more.

The woven steel structure of the roof is exceptional in its complexity while remaining remarkably straightforward: a highly rhythmic repetition of steel arcs entwined together to form both facade and roof. Nothing in their design is gratuitous as the structure is subject to seismic loads and high winds. The concrete structure below supports the roof and the upper stands and demonstrate a dynamic balance that evokes vitality and movement.

The stadium aims at a IAAF and a FIFA homologation and hosting CAN games as part of Algeria’s wish to welcome and host major sports events. In 2022, Oran will be hosting the 19^th Mediterranean Games (26 Mediterranean countries compete under the flag of the HOC/IOC).

This project has been a particularly challenging first experience for a majority of the parties involved as it will be the first new stadium in Algeria since the 1970s.  Though ORIGIN has a long experience in sports architecture it was a first for Christian Bonnaud. The specialists in the field will understand the seriousness, challenges, and complexity it represents. Despite all this, Christian Bonnaud has been a champion at every occasion and has tirelessly carried the project through all adversity. Well beyond the complex design challenges facing both client, architect, engineer and contractors, our unsung hero has always kept his smile and knows how to motivate his team. The result of this team effort will reside in a benchmark stadium due to be delivered in 2021.