Annex B
Wembley Stadium Feasibility Study (extract)
BACKGROUND TO STUDY
Danco were approached by Foster and Partners
to look at the feasibility of providing a raised temporary platform
for the Wembley Stadium Project which would create an arena for
athletics use to International competition level whilst maintaining
a suitable playing surface for football and other sports. A confidentiality
agreement was signed, plans for the proposed stadium were exchanged
and the following requirements and information was disclosed.
1. The platform must be lightweight
yet heavy duty.
2. The platform would be around 20,000
sqm and approximately six metres tall.
3. The platform should be re-useable
and where possible environmentally friendly.
4. It must be cost effective.
5. It must provide three areas: (a)
an inner grass surface; (b) an oval track; and (c) a perimeter
road. Area (a) would be used for football, field athletics and
other sports.
6. Floor loadings for area (a) and
(b) to be 6kn sqm and area (c) 10kn sqm.
7. The outer perimeter road should
be capable of bearing heavy lorries.
8. The platform must be capable of
installation within a three month period.
9. Speed of erection and dismantling
was paramount.
10. Assume that the ground is capable bearing
the load.
11. A smaller, lower platform may also be
required externally as a warm up track. Which would be on land
adjacent to the new stadium. (Exact location to be advised).
12. The project is highly confidential.
WEMBLEY PLATFORM
The design of the Wembley platform would be
based on the standard re-useable Multifloor modules which incorporate
provision for precise adjustment to compensate for any level imperfections.
The pre-assembled steel sub-frame would be on
two levels for ease of transportation and erection. Bracing would
be specific to local areas with obviously the vehicle access perimeter
area requiring the most attention. A loading of 10kn sqm has been
proposed for this perimeter area which although easily obtainable
must be carefully monitored and designated to ensure that no overload
is achieved with heavy vehicles. A simple one way system on a
fenced roadway with a good margin of safety and a temporary vehicle
weighting system at the entrance to the platform should ensure
compliance.
The central grassed area could be incorporated
into the Multifloor panels off site, this will further speed up
the conversion process at each end as well as reducing unnecessary
traffic on the platform once built.
Although not a requirement in the original briefing
it was apparent that the proposed design of the platform enables
the use of the mid-deck and lower ground floor areas for additional
uses. We are already in discussions with a national modular cabin
building on another project to build cassette pre-formed temporary
buildings to fit beneath the Multifloor platform with access by
built-in staircases and ramps, this could also have major benefits
to this project as temporary sub-floor administration offices
changing rooms or general storage facilities.
One of the major concerns with the project was
the time scale required to convert the Stadium, assuming there
is unrestricted access, we have no doubt that the Multifloor platform
envisaged could be completely erected within a six week period
and removed within four weeks, this time scale could be reduced
further if 24 hours, seven days a week working was permitted and
is based on our experience of similar platforms but obviously
subject to final specifications.
It is anticipated in the region of 3,500 tonnes
of re-useable steel structure would be required to fulfil the
project in its present format and that the cost of manufacture,
transportation, erection and dismantling would be in the region
of £4.5 to £5 million.
A few assumptions have been made in accessing
this feasibility, the major one being the load bearing capacity
of the ground involved. We have assumed that as with most sites
the lower pitch/arena would be suitably compact and that the use
of appropriate spreading bearer plates would avoid the need for
foundations. Another consideration would be water on the platform
we have assumed that adequate drainage facilities would be incorporated
sub-floor level and that this would be capable of dispersing any
untoward build up on the platform. It is not envisaged that any
concrete products would be used during construction, above or
below ground.
WARM-UP
TRACK
A second platform may also be required on land
outside of the main stadium (exact location to be identified)
as a warm up track for athletics. As it is envisaged that this
platform will only need to be level and not have a six metre height
requirement a standard Multifloor configuration could be used
with additional deck stiffness to avoid any dynamic response problems
for athletes. Erection of this second structure would only take
approximately two to three weeks and could be dismantled in less
than two weeks. Cost of this second smaller platform would be
in the region of 60 per cent of the larger one, subject to final
specification.
Given that the Multifloor has precise adjustments
on all pillars and legs the platform could be installed and laser
levelled on any undulating surface without the need of additional,
costly and permanent ground foundations.
Again as with the main platform the deck surface
treatments allows for applications of specialist sports surfaces
as required. Although initial contact has been made with these
suppliers precise details of the final surface has yet to be agreed.
If required we can also rent a structure to
cover the platform and completely enclose the area from the elements,
this could be 40-50 metres wide clearspan, or 60-100 metre wide
with centre pillars, as modular units they can both be of any
length in five metre sections these would be aluminium temporary
structures direct from our hire stock.
SUMMARY
Following extensive research and investigation
into the requirements of Wembley Stadium, there is no doubt that
the Multifloor product can fulfil the requirements of the project.
Its proven lightweight design, speed of deployment, and reusable
cost effective features, make it an ideal solution for the temporary
athletics platform. The following summary concludes our study:
1. Its lightweight heavy duty design
can fulfil all the loading requirements including that of heavy
traffic without the need of reinforced concrete.
2. Installation of the basic platform
can be fully achieved within a six week period.
3. Removal would take approximately
four weeks.
4. The platform can be re-used within
the event industry and re-installed at a later date if necessary
into the stadium or other similar venues.
5. The inner grassed area could be
pre-laid into the floor off site to further speed up installation
and removal times.
6. The modular split level design,
enables potential mid-deck and ground floor utilisation with pre-built
cabin blocks and staircases to the upper level for storage, administration,
changing and other facilities.
7. The unique advantages of the Multifloor
product makes it politically and publicly very user friendly.
8. The cost of the basic platform would
be in the region of £4.5 to £5 million subject to the
final bracing requirements of the structural engineers.
9. A warm up track of similar size
can be installed on land adjacent to the stadium and would be
approximately 60 per cent of the cost of the main platform. A
temporary roof cover could also be supplied if necessary.
10. A demonstration platform of two modules
(24 panels) can be supplied for evaluation purposes at a cost
of £65,000.
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