Taking a blue path to victory
21. March 2022
At some point, every athletics facility needs a comprehensive renovation – and it’s usually an expensive affair. To achieve a high-quality and durable result that doesn’t break the bank, every single investment has to be well thought out. In the Herti stadium in Zug, individual athletics tracks have therefore been laid with different surfaces to suit their respective load-bearing requirements. Despite this variety, with CONIPUR systems the result is uniform in appearance – and makes for a perfect running experience on bright blue tracks.
The synthetic surface of the 400 m athletics track in the Herti stadium lasted a remarkable 17 years. During this time, only maintenance work was carried out and the top layer was replaced once. By the summer of 2020, though, a more comprehensive renovation was needed. As part of the plan, the surface of the oval track was also stripped down to the asphalt and fully renewed. Even from a distance, the colour catches the eye: the athletics tracks is no longer red, but blue. It’s a colour scheme that has already been in use for several years at major international competitions, such as the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Even if these kinds of competitions are not to be expected in Zug, the stadium is now equipped for major events. After the complete renovation, the athletics facility will meet the Swiss Athletics Association’s criteria for such meets. The CONIPUR SP and CONIPUR EPDM SP surface was used for the two inner tracks.
CONIPUR SP: The track for professionals
CONIPUR SP is CONICA’s most cost-effective, World Athletics-certified athletic track system. It ensures professional demands are met, even on a tight budget. In addition, the 2 mm-thick top surface is installed by spray coating. This saves time and cuts costs.
Unlike many other athletics track systems, CONIPUR SP is water-permeable, which means that costly drainage is not needed. This is why it is also often used for outdoor playgrounds.
We also keep the environment in mind: the 10-mm thick elastic layer consists of recycled granules. It’s a strong argument for projects that require a resource-saving approach.
Inexpensive execution, uncompromising quality
A total of 8,000 m2 of surface area had to be installed for the 400 m athletics track – a task carried out by the Walo Bertschinger company from Ebikon. Working with CONICA and the landscape architects at Erich Andermatt Partner AG in Allenwinden, a solution at once sophisticated and economical was developed. At CONICA’s suggestion, the CONIPUR EPDM SP system was installed on the “stress zones”, i.e. on tracks 1 and 2, while CONIPUR SP was used for the other tracks. In addition, the entire surface was provided with a coloured sealant. This ensured a uniform appearance despite the different surfaces. The schedule was tight, but the agreed deadlines were met. This means that Zug is once again well equipped for popular sports and upcoming major events alike.
