The oldest team in the Argentine football system, Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, is advancing with ambitious plans to transform its historic stadium through a project that intends to create firsts for the domestic game.
Located in the city of La Plata, capital of Buenos Aires Province, Estadio Juan Carmelo Zerillo has stood as Gimnasia’s home since 1926, with the club now seeking to carry out a wide-ranging multi-phase redevelopment that will ultimately boost its capacity from the current figure of around 30,000 to a targeted 51,244.
The venture is being driven by the Subcomisión del Plan Estratégico Gimnasia, a body founded in early 2020 by a group of club members from various fields who are involved in institutional life. Club infrastructure is one of four strategic focus points for the Subcomisión, which staged its first meeting in December 2022.
Commenting on the vision behind the project, Indalecio Demo and Ignacio De Nicola, members of the Subcomisión, told TheStadiumBusiness.com: “Gimnasia was the first football club founded in Argentina in 1887 and has had its stadium in the same place since 1926.
“Although several renovations have been carried out, the club has now decided to expand and renovate the stadium to provide its members and fans with services, amenities and experiences that are in line with current times, and with a vision for the future.
“We want to construct a new stadium, sports centre, commercial sectors and areas for use by members. It is located in a great position in relation to La Plata city, so we have an important opportunity to create different business for investors.”
Open competition
To reach the current position, Gimnasia also created another piece of history for Argentina in becoming the first club to run an open design competition for proposals concerning a future version of the stadium popularly known as El Bosque, due to its setting in a park of the same name.
This attracted more than 100 initial submissions, with 43 confirmed proposals that were ultimately narrowed down to three for a final members vote back in December. Some 800 of the club’s circa 40,000 membership made the final call, with ‘Proyecto 65’ being the chosen one.
Proyecto 65 has been drawn up by OP Arquitectos, a La Plata-based design studio. Gonzalo Pérez and Marcela Orcaje, owners and partners of OP who led Proyecto 65, said: “Proyecto 65 resolves fundamental aspects of the problems posed by the National Ideas Competition for the site.
“We understand that the strategies that defined its final selection at the shareholders’ assembly were based on a number of points. These included a sense of belonging and identity with El Bosque and the institution, a larger capacity of close to 52,000 spectators, and the concept of an ‘open stadium’ connecting positively with its surroundings.
“A landscape building defines it as a piece of sustainable architecture, while the entire complex is developed in relation to ground level, making it a complex with excellent accessibility. Its modular design, conceived as different autonomous units within the complex, gives it great flexibility in terms of execution possibilities.
“Its status as a green and accessible building positions it very well with the official agencies that will decide on the approval of its construction. The complex does not propose intensive use below the sidewalk level, making it a development that responds very well to the risk of flooding in the region.
“Finally, the value of its design, from a simple and austere perspective, defines architecture of great character, strong synthesis, and high quality.”
Multi-sport ethos
The main priority for the project is undoubtedly to modernise the stadium in all aspects, and expand capacity, but a strong consideration has also been made to develop facilities that cater to Gimnasia’s overall remit as a multi-sport club.
While the football team is the most high-profile operation, Gimnasia runs a number of other sporting outfits, with the club traditionally being particularly strong in volleyball and basketball. With this in mind, a new indoor sports centre forms a key part of the plans, while a swimming pool will also be introduced.
Sustainable development was also a major consideration, owing to the stadium’s parkland setting, with the vision of making the stadium complex a public park that will be an asset not just to Gimnasia and its fans, but also the wider La Plata community.
“The project for the stadium of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata is based on three main ideas that give it meaning,” said Pérez and Orcaje.
“Firstly, the concept of an ‘open stadium’ is being worked on, with two pedestrian passages (north and south) linking the site with a view to connecting the city with El Bosque, allowing the integration of the different pieces of the complex.
“Secondly, by going from a capacity of 30,000 to more than 50,000 spectators, the idea of ‘assuming the new scale of the stadium’ is being worked on from an integral design that allows the stitching of the pre-existing pieces and the new aspects. A ‘metallic skin in a vegetal key’ produces the image of uniqueness of the new stadium, forming a facility that becomes the urban reference within El Bosque.
“Thirdly, the new sports programs that are transferred to the site (volleyball, basketball, skating, artistic gymnastics, boxing, taekwondo etc) are delivered under the ‘Pliegue’ concept. A new topography, based on topomorphic architecture, delivers the Sports Center without impacting on El Bosque and provides new green spaces for the city.
“The Garden Terrace also acts to consolidate an amphitheatre that serves as a space for all types of outdoor events.”
Furthering the green theme, Pérez and Orcaje added: “The design of the stadium works on the premise of understanding new architectures from a sustainable perspective in all its aspects. The architecture must be sustainable in all phases and must include both active and passive systems.
“The premise of energy self-sufficiency and a zero-carbon footprint is being worked on. El Pliegue acts as a new green space for El Bosque.”
Art Deco styling
As with any project focusing on a significant overhaul of a historic stadium, including complete roof coverage, the idea of respecting this history is also crucial.
With regards Estadio Juan Carmelo Zerillo, it is one of only two stadia in Argentina with Art Deco style-architecture, alongside Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó, home of fellow Primera División team, Club Atlético Huracán.
“The project maintains the fundamental pieces of its heritage based on the understanding that there are pre-existing elements of high value that make up the history of the complex,” Pérez and Orcaje said.
“Therefore, the Platea René Favaloro (an Art Deco building from the 1920s) and the entire entrance sector for members, with its pergola and components of the landscape of the place, are maintained.
“The new elements of the project are produced by managing the new roof and façade that define the ring that gives synthesis to the complex. With respect to capacity, the entire site will be transformed into an enclave that transcends sporting events, and will also provide services for the entire community in this important part of the city.”
The financial challenge
With the concept in place for the future El Bosque, the hard work now begins for Gimnasia. A model is yet to be devised in terms of how the project will be financed, and therefore a definitive timeline for delivery has not been laid out.
However, OP Arquitectos is firm in its belief that the multi-phase approach to development can be delivered on, with Demo and De Nicola stating that Subcomisión del Plan Estratégico Gimnasia is “dedicated to the objective”.
Pérez and Orcaje said: “The project does not yet have a defined cost structure. It is in the idea stage and is in the process of carrying out the preliminary project in the next stages.
“It can be said, however, that it proposes a very rational use of space and resources with a profile oriented towards sustainability and energy autonomy, so we believe that its implementation will be very viable.
“For the financing of the complex, it is planned to be divided into different business units that will allow its execution in different stages.”
Demo and De Nicola added: “The club is currently working on the generation and documentation of the new project, creating investment opportunities and managing investment and financing to then begin construction.”
For further information on this project, or to get involved, contact Indalecio Demo and Ignacio De Nicola at: peg@gimnasia.org.ar.
