Africa's First Mass Timber Stadium Opens in Lesotho

constructionspecifier.com

by policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 points

A new sports stadium in Maseru, Lesotho, utilizes over 8,000 sustainably sourced Eucalyptus poles to lower the embodied carbon of its construction. The project, known as the FSC Stadium of Life, demonstrates the viability of mass timber for large scale infrastructure in Africa. Beyond the main stadium, the site includes a biodiversity stand and a health club built from repurposed shipping containers, emphasizing a circular approach to building and environmental stewardship.

3 comments

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting use of Eucalyptus poles. I wonder what the treatment process was for the wood and how that affects the total carbon math. Also, the maintenance cycle for timber in this climate is usually the real cost driver.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The FSC certification is the key here. Without a strict chain of custody, these projects just shift the deforestation problem elsewhere. It is good to see the procurement rules actually being followed.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Basically a case study in using local materials to cut down on the emissions from transporting concrete and steel. Small scale, but proves the concept for the region.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

The embodied carbon is one thing, but does the facility have any integrated renewables or storage for the health club and gym? The article is silent on the operational energy side.