The opportunity

Wembley Arena was originally built to house the swimming pool for the 1948 Olympics. More recently it has become world famous as a live entertainment venue. As part of the redevelopment and regeneration programme for the building we constructed a new stage and installed terraces and catwalks, and strengthened the existing floors.

The operation

We designed and developed folded plate terrace units 5m in length and remodelled existing terraces to provide disabled access up to current standards. New catwalks and supports were erected for the suspended lighting and sound system matrix and all basement areas were remodelled.

An underground backstage delivery yard for the new stage was created beneath the new transfer structure for two new blocks of flats. This transfer structure consists of three large heavy trusses spanning over the delivery yard and forming the principal supports for the new flats above. The 35m trusses also support a series of plate girders, hot rolled steelwork and composite metal deck slabs forming the roof of the central delivery yard at ground level.

The 40 tonne trusses were fabricated in completed assemblies off-site and transported to site and erected over a three-day period using heavy mobile cranes.

The result

The main arena was rotated 180° with the new stage area being erected at the opposite end of the building, to fit in with plans to surround the new arena with a 160,000 sq ft development of leisure facilities.