Fernandes Associates Architects set out to make the Maracanã Arena project a public stage numbered among the most modern and efficient in the world, while still keeping its main features drawing from 60 years of Brazil’s sporting arena history and symbolism.

A new Maracanã was "born" within the former, so as not to overwrite the existing design, but rather, renew it. Thus, many existing structural elements were incorporated and the remaining spaces recovered. The main changes occurred in the design of the stands, where new structures are designed to meet the ideal conditions of visibility, safety, and comfort. All related services such as bars and toilets were completely rebuilt to the highest standards.

One of the highlights of the renovation of the stadium is the strong presence of small and large translucent covers, or floating light, almost without touching the existing structure, which caps and protects the old stadium. The project, which has authorized the German office Bergermann Schlaich und Partner (SBP) to enable the implementation of a PV ring on the metal structure that will support the new coverage- tensioned canvas, generating clean energy equivalent to the consumption of 240 households, and avoiding the emission of 2,560 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The front of the arena was preserved, and regardless of where it is seen from the outside, the Maracanã remains largely intact. The new coverage also does not cause visual impact. The designers kept the main internal circulation and its relation to the existing structure, such as pillars, ceiling, openings, and others.

Additionally, the built-up area which was 92,5700 square feet, has been expanded and now numbers approximately 172,2225 square feet.This project is one of the most successful Fernandes projects because we met the challenge to modernize and preserve the Maracanã, while keeping the popular representation and readying the stadium once again to be one of the major sporting arenas for the next 40 to 50 years. Users will experience the unique relationship between the new and the old.

Sustainable aspects of the project:
Regarding sustainability, the project for modernizing the Maracanã following LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, developed by the Green Building Council of America, which provides a set of sustainable standards to be observed in construction projects.

Among the measures adopted that are sustainable is the reuse of old seats, which were moved from the Maracanã to other sports facilities in Rio de Janeiro. The soil under the grass field, which holds a large amount of fertilizer and nutrients, was used in a reforestation project with native plants of the Atlantic Forest. Even the mud removed from the work was reused as a raw material for the production of bricks and tiles.

The design also includes the reuse of water drained from the stadium roof, and a drainage system, which leads to a saving of 45 percent of the water used in the field maintenance. The Maracanã also has new electrical and plumbing systems as well as photovoltaic panels installed on the roof to collect solar energy to heat water for showers and faucets in bathrooms and closets.

Brazil has qualified as having the second largest number of LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified sports buildings. The certification is granted by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). The Maracanã stadium and Arena Pernambuco Itaipava received LEED® for New Construction certification in the Silver category. The Arena Pernambuco used steel with 87 percent of recycled raw materials and cement with 30 percent recycled raw materials, 17 percent of energy is generated by photovoltaic panels reducing 142.81 tCO2 per year. The Maracanã will reduce 23 percent of the operating cost of consumption with energy, 71.14 percent reduction in portable water consumption, 100 percent reduction of portable water for irrigation, 9 percent of the energy is being generated by photovoltaic panels, as well as the implementation of ample access to public transportation.

The chairs of the Maracanã:
Typically, the design layout and the colors of stadium chairs are more aesthetic than functional, and in most cases, associated with symbolic issues like the color of the team, the flag of the country or the city, and even the names of figures and symbols.
The division of color is an important tool in separating the bleachers into blocks, rings, or sectors, and often creates a very rigid demarcation. The idea of the project was to take advantage of this distribution to aggregate the feeling of togetherness. The colors were merged between the chairs promoting a smoother transition between seating areas. The use of this mix of various colors decreases the perception of empty spaces.

In the case of the Maracanã, the color palette choice was obvious due to its role as the national stadium. The chosen colors of yellow, blue, and white are cheerful colors but also represent the national colors. The green field was used to complete the missing color, and the beginning of the chairs are in Brazilian yellow, going to blue, and then white and gray. The colors tend to finish by the end of the bleachers in lighter shades, which together with the new cover has the function of giving more lightness to the room, leaving the warmer colors in the lower areas, where the sun will focus more often.