Upgrading Nasrec Precinct for the World Cup and Beyond
Last year May, Construction Review featured an introduction to the Nasrec Precinct upgrade project, which initiated our readers to the amazing developments taking place in and around the 2010 World Cup soccer stadium—Soccer City. Since that initial feature a number of developments have taken place, of which we will give the latest updates.
During the 2010 World Cup and for any event occurring at the Soccer City Stadium, navigation to and from the venue will be a crucial concern. This is further complicated by the fact that there will not be vehicular parking anywhere near the stadium. Designers then faced the challenge of effectively using that buffer zone between the stadium and the park’n’ride areas, where patrons would leave their vehicles.
The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) wanted stadium patrons, not to be just hurled into the stadium, but partake in the ambiance leading up to the stadium as well. In their execution of this, a number of supplemental and functional developments lay just outside of the Soccer City stadium.
Pedestrian Promenade with Bridge Link
The promenade is the main link between the expo centre (and transport hub) and the stadium, the design is to allow for ease of pedestrian movement between the two anchors on site. The Southern end of the promenade begins with a square and sculpture that forms the gateway towards one’s approach to the stadium and towards the expo centre when arriving at the transport hub, this central meeting point links from the east with the transport hub and train station from the west,providing orientation to the two main anchors north and south.
A 25 metre wide bridge with ambient lighting transports pedestrians across the widened Landbou Road and the railway tracks onto a series of ramps that meander gently down to the Stadium Avenue. It resembles an urban concrete park, with provisions for respite by providing benches, streetlights, landscaping including an open-air amphitheatre.
- Transportation Hub The hub is a designated visitor public transport node. It is situated at the south-west end of the Promenade which leads northward in sight of the stadium. It provides for taxis/bus/rail and BRT drop-off and pickup for spectators. A low-lying boomerang forms shelter structure roofs over the public ablutions and the ticket kiosk where stairs direct passengers straight into the stadium.
- Platforms Located closest in proximity to the stadium than any other structure, the platforms serve as a staging area for events related to the stadium. Spanning the size of 2-3 football fields, these areas have versatile usage that can range from hosting media or broadcasting event, special parking areas or even practice fields.
- Golden Highway Extension and BRT station This crucial road upgrade will link the Soweto Highway with the Rand Show Road—the main arterial road for Soccer City. Spanning a mere 1.5km, the road is being upgraded to a dual-lane double carriageway. The city’s new BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) public transportation network will also have a station within the Golden Highway Extension near the transportation hub.
Being that Nasrec’s Soccer City stadium was the main venue for many 2010 World Cup matches including the tournament’s opening and closing ceremonies—upgrading the overall precinct in capacity building and aesthetics became imperative to an overall positive presentation. Yet, equally important was planning the sustainability of the new structures after the conclusion of the World Cup.
This sustainability or legacy use was designed within every new structure built in the Nasrec Precinct upgrades and will continually provide income for the province, thus leaving a positive and lasting legacy for the nation.
Implementation Agency
Johannesburg Development Agency
Project Manager
PD Naidoo and Associates Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd /
archway projects for the platform project
Architect (joint venture)
Boogertman Urban Edge + Partners
Muhammad Mayet Architects
Engineer GOBA Consulting
Quantity Surveyors Davis Langdon
Contractors (Nasrec Pedestrian Promenade)
Stefanutti & Bressan Earthworks (Pty) Ltd
Mlokothwa Construction cc
Contractors (Stadium Ave; National League Ave & Golden Highway Middle Section) Sanyati Civils Inland (Pty) Ltd
Contractors (Nasrec Public Transport Hub)
Trencon Construction (Pty) Ltd
