World Youth Day: We’re supporting one of the world's biggest events with efficient scaffolding solutions

Beatriz and Carla know what is important when it comes to formwork and scaffolding for various projects. Realising a major event, however, is something special. So, when it came to supporting one of the biggest events in the world, the World Youth Day, they bravely took on the challenge. This spectacular happening, which takes place every two to four years, brings together millions of people from all over the world to meet the Pope. In 2023, this special day took place in Lisbon.

In order to successfully organise such a huge event, you don’t just need the right solutions, but also expertise in 3D planning and logistics as well as a good sense of project and time management – all the skills Beatriz and Carla already had. "After Madrid in 2011, this is the second time we have helped build the stage for the World Youth Day," says Carla proudly. "As we already had experience with one of the biggest international events, we were able to implement our plans quickly and secure the required 200 tonnes of material. This allowed us to show our client early on how efficiently and reliably we work – and that was the decisive factor in the end."

The location – always in focus

Every project has its own requirements. When building huge stages, the location plays a crucial role. How much space is available? Is the ground surface even? Are there any obstacles on site that need to be considered or rebuilt? These questions are important in order to take all circumstances into account.

The stage for World Youth Day was located in Parque Eduardo VII, not far from the centre of Lisbon. The task for our Iberian team was mainly to develop scaffolding solutions for the stage and main grandstand. A special feature was the towers of different heights, that stood out monumentally and gave the stage a design framework. However, they also presented a challenge: their size. With a height of 26 metres and a width of 40 metres, the towers were as big as an Olympic swimming pool – and had to be scaffolded and cladded accordingly. Elements of the PERI UP Scaffolding Kit were used as well as 4,000 metres of VT 20 Alpha formwork girder and 2,000 square metres of three-layer plywood panels to fulfil the requirements of the stage design.

"Another obstacle was the monument in memory of the Carnation Revolution of 1974," says Beatriz. "It also had to be considered in the planning, so it was enclosed in the rear scaffolding structure. By distributing the loads around the statue, it was not only protected during the construction work, but during the whole event."

Standing up to the weather

In addition to the location, weather conditions like rain, snow and strong winds are also an important factor in the construction of outdoor stages. The latter in particular caused a bead or two of sweat at the World Youth Day 2023.

"As the park is located on a hill, winds are not uncommon there," explains Carla. "However, you have to take them into account when planning." The tower construction was particularly affected. Counterweights were used to prevent the towers from tipping over. Structural calculations showed that around 115 tonnes in the form of concrete blocks and water tanks were needed to ensure sufficient stability. These were attached to the base of the towers using our SRU steel walers and anchor rods.

"The biggest challenge, however, was to transfer the loads of the scaffolding around the monument without damaging or touching it," says Beatriz. But here, too, the team came up with a solution: They designed a special bridging solution.

3D planning – for dealing with the complexity of every stage construction

Once the conditions on site have been clarified, the next step is to understand the client and develop solutions that take into account the logistics and schedule as well as the material requirements. The Iberian team around Beatriz and Carla usually present 3D sketches in initial discussions with the client, which are based on the architect's ideas and recognise potential challenges.

3D planning was also of great importance at the World Youth Day. Not only did it immediately convince the client of the team's expertise, but it also provided the planning and installation team with valuable insights during construction. Thanks to our flexible PERI UP scaffolding system, the sketches showed how the complex towers were to be erected, which materials were required and how the historic monument could be properly protected. The 3D models also illustrated safety measures such as the numerous passages and access points for the artists and visitors.