César Azcárate Gómez (Bilbao, 1966) is an architect from the School of Architecture at the University of Navarra in 1990, earned a Master’s degree in Building Construction in 2000, and completed his PhD in Architecture at the same university in 2008. He is a partner and Director of Sports & Events Architecture at IDOM Consulting, Engineering and Architecture, an international firm with experience in projects around the world. César combines his professional work with teaching at the School of Architecture of the University of Navarra since 1991. He has taught and lectured at various universities and professional forums, and his work has been published in numerous specialized media outlets worldwide.
His projects have received numerous awards in international design competitions. Notable recognitions include: The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Center for Architecture for the New Camp Nou project for FC Barcelona in 2023; selection for the FAD Architecture Awards in 2006 and 2010; Honorable Mention and selection for the 7th and 8th São Paulo Architecture Biennials in 2007 and 2009; selection for the international exhibition Young Architects of Spain (JAE) in 2008; the Rosa Barba European Landscape Prize at the 5th Landscape Biennial; and the First Prize in Urban Planning and Ecology in 2008 from the Basque-Navarre Official College of Architects, among others.
César was the Lead Architect of the new San Mamés Stadium for Athletic Club in Bilbao. In addition to being the first European stadium to obtain LEED Certification, it has received numerous awards since its completion in 2014, such as: First Prize in the Sports and Recreation category at the 2020 World Design Awards by The Architecture Community; Best Stadium of the Year 2017 at the World Football Summit Industry Awards in Madrid; Sports Building of the Year at the 2015 World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Singapore; and Stadium of the Year at the 2015 World Stadium Congress in Qatar, among others.
He has also led numerous sports architecture projects, including: the renovation of the Estadio Monumental for River Plate in Buenos Aires; the new La Romareda Stadium for Real Zaragoza; the comprehensive renovation of the Ciutat de València Stadium for Levante UD; the new stadium for Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro in Buenos Aires; the full modernization of the San Carlos de Apoquindo Stadium for Universidad Católica in Santiago de Chile; the new sports complex for the University of Monterrey in Mexico; the new training city for Real Betis Balompié in Spain; the renovation of the Estadio de la Cerámica for Villarreal CF; the new Camp Nou for FC Barcelona; and the new Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium for Sevilla FC.
