The Prism Sports & Entertainment Complex

Cairo University, Faculty of Engineering Architecture Department.

Idea projektu

The project originates from the hidden narrative connecting four major anchors in West Cairo:
Sphinx International Airport → the Sports & Entertainment Complex → the Giza Pyramids → the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Since the airport was built primarily to link West Cairo with the Giza Plateau and the GEM, my design vision was to complete this narrative architecturally. The complex becomes the missing element in this sequence , a cultural and athletic landmark that continues the story of arrival, identity, and monumental form.

From this idea, the project adopts the triangular prism as its fundamental geometric language.
The triangle, rooted in the geometry of the Pyramids, becomes the base unit for:

Form generation

Structural logic

Environmental response

Envelope design

Engineering systems

Through repetition, rotation, and interlocking of triangular modules, the complex expresses a new contemporary identity for West Cairo while remaining deeply tied to Egypt’s architectural heritage.
It becomes a place where movement, culture, and performance meet, completing the symbolic journey that begins at the airport and leads to Egypt’s most iconic monuments.

Popis projektu

The project is located on a large site in Sheikh Zayed City and is organized around three primary facilities:

The Main Multi-Purpose Arena (3,000 seats)

The Medium-Scale Training Halls

The Recreational and Entertainment Zone featuring flexible activity spaces

These buildings are arranged along a central pedestrian spine that connects all public movements from the main entrance to the open plazas and landscaped courtyards. The masterplan establishes layered zones of access separating spectators, athletes, VIP, and services, ensuring clarity of circulation and security.

Spatially, the complex uses faceted envelopes, triangular folding surfaces, and large atriums to create dramatic interior experiences. Natural daylight is introduced through controlled skylights, while the building skins maintain thermal protection suitable for the Egyptian climate through double-layered envelopes and shading geometry.

Public plazas are integrated between the buildings to transform the complex into an active, walkable, and community-friendly environment. The design balances iconic form with functional efficiency, promoting a vibrant destination for events, sports, and social activity.

Rendered perspectives highlight the immersive user experience: large illuminated halls, structural clarity, dynamic roof geometries, and the interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Technické informace

Structural System
– The main venue is spanned by spatial folded-plate megastructures, derived from interlocking triangular prisms that create large clear spans without internal supports.
– The supporting system consists of reinforced concrete beams, slabs, and columns, forming a stable substructure for the upper folded roof geometry and circulation decks.
– Secondary steel members follow the same faceted triangular logic, allowing the envelope, structure, and form to operate as one unified system.

Environmental Strategies
– North-facing skylights are integrated within the triangular roof prisms to bring in diffuse daylight while preventing glare and heat gain.
– South-facing solar panels are placed along the inclined triangular surfaces to optimize solar exposure and generate renewable on-site energy.
– The faceted envelope enhances shading performance, wind flow, and thermal control across different building orientations.

Engineering Systems
– The HVAC system is fully integrated within the triangular and faceted interior language:
• Supply air is delivered through linear slits hidden along the folded ceiling surfaces.
• Return air is extracted through perforations embedded within the same geometric system, ensuring seamless airflow without disrupting the architectural identity.
– Mechanical distribution, lighting channels, and acoustic treatments follow the same modular triangular geometry for maximum efficiency and aesthetic coherence.

Additional Specifications
– Circulation systems differentiate between spectators, athletes, VIP, and service routes.
– Fire safety and egress systems follow Egyptian codes, with strategically placed stair cores and smoke extraction integrated into the roof geometry.
– Basement level includes parking, services, loading, and back-of-house areas.