Concerts nowadays, particularly when they involve pop music, are becoming more and more extravagant. Accordingly, the equipment used by the artists for light and sound is large and heavy. As there is a limit to the maximum load that can be attached to a roof or lighting gantry structure, this must be effectively monitored. Load monitoring in the unique roof design of the Olympiahalle arena in Munich presented a major challenge to the engineers. This has been resolved with measurement technology from HBM.
The architecture of the Olympiapark, that was built in Munich in 1972, on the occasion of the XXth Summer Olympics, was intended, in contrast to the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, to symbolize freedom and democracy.
Designed by the Behnisch & Partner Architectural Office Olympiapark Architecture Group, together with Frei Otto, the world-famous roof structure spans the stadium, the indoor Olympic pool and the Olympiahalle arena, as well as the space between the sports facilities. The sports facilities are incorporated in a 850,000 m2 park, with made-up hills and an artificially constructed lake. As some of the sports facilities are below ground level, the large, 80,000 m2 curved roof is an impressive focal point of the Olympiapark. The roof is a steel cable structure, suspended on pylons that are up to 80 m high, and is covered with acrylic glass plates.