Title page 1|Page
2|Page
Abstract
Acknowledgements
This appraisal sets out to look at the relocation, design and construction of a new football stadium for Arsenal Football Club; developing a new arena with greater seating capacity that would enable Arsenal to generate additional revenue and allow them to compete with the top teams in England and Europe. A move to a stadium with a greater capacity would be beneficial and absolutely essential for them to be able compete at the top level for many years to come. However, relocating from a stadium with so much tradition and history would never be easy. Arsenal assembled a strong design team in order to create a new footballing landmark which would be discussed by supporters all over the world.
First of all, I would like to express sincere appreciation to Mr. Giridharan Renganathan for providing me with all the necessary facilities and resources. I place on record, my sincere gratitude to Mr. Ken Friar, Director of Arsenal Football Club, and Mr. John Beattie, the Stadium Manager for supplying me with additional information on the Club. I also thank Mr Tom Jones, Principal and in charge of Business Development at the London-based architecture firm- Populous. Moreover, I would like to thank my family and friends for their endless encouragement and support.
Arsenal were initially faced by many challenges in seeking a new location for the new arena. As a result, the design and construction was affected and right the way throughout the process, the design team had to make quick decisions to overcome the unexpected complications they were confronted by. In my opinion, a magnificent new stadium was a great reward for the vision and tireless efforts of everyone involved in the project. This showed how the initial plans to improve the stadium ended up with both a state of the art replacement and the regeneration of the local area.
3|Page
4|Page
Contents 1.0 Introduction Pg 6-7 1.1 Project Information 1.2 Previous Stadium 1.3 The Site 2.0 Pre Design Pg 8-10 2.1 Clients 2.2 Public Consultation 2.3 Project Scope 2.4 Funding Pg 3.0 Project Team Pg 11-14 3.1 The Brief 3.2 Architects- Populous 3.3 Engineers- Buro Happold 3.4 Contractors- Sir Robert McAlpine
4.3.5 Circulation 4.3.6 Interior 4.3.7 Podium 4.3.8 Sustainability 4.3.9 Pitch 5.0 Construction Pg 36-38 5.1 Construction Process 6.0 Completion Pg 39-41 6.1 Post Completion 7.0 Post Occupancy Review Pg 42-47 7.1 Client 7.2 Architect 7.3 Attendees 8.0 Conclusion Pg 48-49
4.0 Design Pg 15-35 4.1 Site constraints 4.2 Concept 4.3 Detailed Design- Architectural features unique to design 4.3.1 Bridges 4.3.2 Main frame and substructure 4.3.3 Roof 4.3.4 Signage
9.0 References Pg 50-53 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3
Appendix Pg 54-63 Orthographic Drawings Interviews and Questionnaires Major Construction Milestones
5|Page
1.0 Introduction 1.1 Project Information Architect: Structural Engineer: Clients: Location: Construction start date: Construction cost: Capacity: Sector:
Populous (formerly HOK Sport) Buro Happold Arsenal Football Club London July 2003 (opened 22 July 2006) £390 million 60,361 Sports and Leisure
changes came in the 1930s when the famous Art Deco East and West stands were erected. Then in the early 1990s, following the Government-commissioned Taylor Report, it became a requirement that the terraces at both ends of the ground had to be converted into seating. In August 1993, the North Bank Stand became the last area of Highbury to be refurbished and it opened at a cost of £20 million. This impressive new structure was designed by Populous architects, specialist sports architects, who would have a key role to play in designing the new arena. As a result of these alterations, the stadium capacity had dramatically reduced from 57,000 to approximately 38,000.
During this building appraisal, the main focus will be on the issues related to the relocation of Arsenal Football Club’s previous stadium, Highbury, a 38,000-seater football stadium in the heart of Islington, North London and the building of a new state of the art facility in the same area. The purpose is to understand how the building was created and how it developed from the initial planning stage right up until its completion.
1.2 Previous Stadium Arsenal had occupied their previous stadium at Highbury (Figure 1) since 1913 and although significant changes had been made in later years, notably the conversion to an all-seater facility, the first major
Above Fig. 1: Inside the previous stadium, Highbury.
6|Page
However, in order for Arsenal to meet their aspirations of becoming a top player in the world of football, it became essential for them to be playing in a modern high-class stadium with increased spectator capacity. At that time, rival clubs such as Manchester United were able to generate an additional ÂŁ1 million per home game compared to Arsenal Football club due to their 67,000-seater stadium at Old Trafford. Arsenal initially explored the possibility of expanding Highbury but this was never a real possibility due to physical and financial constraints. Highbury stadium was located in a densely populated residential area where Victorian terraces enclosed each stand and made the space feel very intimate. As a result, on match day the stadium was prone to congestion and spectator management was difficult to control. It was inevitable that Arsenal would make the decision to relocate to a new stadium.
The site appeared to be very compact and constrained, it left many wondering how it would be possible to fit a world-class stadium there especially when compared with other stadia such as Manchester United who had a far larger area available to develop. However, due to the fact that more than 70% of Arsenal’s fans use public transport to travel to matches, it meant there was less emphasis on parking but it was vitally important that the public transportation links were exceptional and could cater for the necessary volumes of people.
1.3 The Site Arsenal investigated a number of alternative locations including tenancy of the new Wembley stadium, however it was eventually decided the new home for Arsenal Football Club would be situated in Ashburton Grove 500 yards from Highbury (seen in Figure 2). This was a site that previously housed a rubbish processing plant, an industrial estate, a railway track and a number of retail units. Hence the whole scheme relied on Arsenal buying out the existing occupants and financing the relocation of their current buildings.
Above Fig. 2: Site at Ashburton Grove In relation to previous stadium, Highbury.
7|Page
2.0 Pre Design 2.1 Clients With the project being within the Sports and Leisure sector and ultimately a football stadium, there was only one client and that was Arsenal Football Club (Figure 3). The famous club was set up at Dial Square armaments factory in Woolwich in 1886 by a group of workers, although it moved to its Highbury base in 1913. Since then, Arsenal has gone on to become one of England’s most successful football clubs competing at the highest levels in England and Europe. They are regarded as one of the top European clubs in
modern football with millions of supporters worldwide (Arsenal.com, 2013). Management and supporters take great pride in the way the affairs of the club are managed as this plays a large part towards the success on the playing field. Although in recent years Arsenal have not captured many trophies, there was a time around ten years ago when they, along with Manchester United, were the dominant forces in English Football. Arsenal are known for taking particular care in their style of play, focus on developing youth talent, self-financing approach, the extended contribution in the community and ultimately a magnificent stadium. (Arsenal.com, 2013) It was vital for the client that this massive project went to plan and a top-class stadium was produced to rival the elite.
Left Fig. 3: Arsenal Football Club team photo. Above Fig. 4: Arsenal players celebrating after scoring a goal
8|Page
2.2 Project Scope At the time, this project was one of the UK’s largest development schemes and was much more than just a stadium construction, unlike most modern stadium projects such as the Aviva Stadium (Dublin) and Olympic Stadium (Stratford). The redevelopment of the surrounding area was a key element and needed careful consideration. The project comprised of three components:
Furthermore, Arsenal agreed to finance a multi-million pound public transport improvement scheme to upgrade Holloway Road, Drayton Park and Finsbury Park stations. This would prove essential in the success of the stadium demonstrating how it would be possible to take the large flows of people to and from the site without the need for huge amounts of car parking facilities.
1. Designing a 60,000-seater stadium on the Ashburton Grove
site along with two pedestrian bridges across the adjoining railway lines, a residential development Ashburton Triangle, the Clubs head office and a new headquarters building feeding the North Bridge (Ken Friar Bridge) to act as a gateway to the stadium. 2. Regeneration of Lough Road with residential properties and a replacement waste and recycling centre (Seen below in Figures 5 and 6). 3. A 500 unit residential development at the old Highbury site with the listed structures of the old stand featuring in a park for the new residents (Figure 7).
Far Left Fig. 5: Lough Road East Left Fig.6: Lough Road West. Above: Fig 7: Highbury Square Development. Above Top Right Fig. 8: Queensland Road Development. Right Fig. 9: Drayton Park Development. Below Fig. 10: Emirates Stadium proposal
9|Page
2.3 Funding When Arsenal first set about this huge project, they knew the money was not available from their own funds and that it was necessary for them to borrow large sums from the banks in order for the project to get the green light. Therefore, a subsidiary of Arsenal Holdings PLC called Ashburton Properties Limited was formed, and a £260 million senior loan facility was secured from a banking consortium that finance stadium facilities. The banking group included some noteworthy companies such as the Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks PLC and HSH Nordbank AG. The remaining funds for the execution of the project were budgeted to come from sponsorship deals that Arsenal Football Club had secured with Granada and Nike, in addition to cash realised from the sale of surplus land connected to the stadium site which was earmarked for new housing development. (Build, n.d.) However, at the end of March 2003, one of the banks pulled out and by that stage construction work had already begun. As a result, work had to stop until almost a year later when Mr. Peter Hill-Wood, the Chairman at the time, was able to announce funding had been secured and work could resume. Middle Eastern airline, Emirates, jumped at the chance to get involved and invested £100 million in return for a 15-year shirt deal and naming rights of the stadium. This pause in the project proved beneficial in some ways as it gave the engineers and
architects further time to fully develop the designs and iron out any design flaws before construction recommenced.
2.4 Public consultation During the early stages of the design process, public consultations were held to discuss the relocation of the stadium in order to choose the most appropriate site. The move to Ashburton Grove at first met with local opposition because the residents were concerned about environmental issues. In January 2000, The Islington Stadium Communities Alliance was set up to promote awareness against the redevelopment with spokeswomen, Alison Carmichael stating "It may look like Arsenal are doing great things for the area, but in its detail the plan is awful. We blame the council, the football club just wants to expand to make more money." (Conn, 2005) However by October 2001, the club conducted a poll of Islington residents, which showed 70% were in favour of the plan. Arsenal also gained support for the project by planting the slogan ‘Let Arsenal support Islington’ around Highbury during home games in November / December 2001. This was clearly successful as the council approved the plans on 10 December 2001. Finally, in July 2002 a decision was reached, and Arsenal were cleared to start construction work on the Ashburton Grove site.
10 | P a g e
3.0 The project Team 3.1 The Brief The brief for the Emirates Stadium was fairly open in regards to the fact there wasn’t really a specific aesthetic the club were looking for. They just wanted a modern, world-class stadium with the best sight lines, playing surface and atmosphere in the English Premier League (Happold, n.d.). Historically, Arsenal was known for having had the best playing surface in the Premiership at Highbury and they were intent on maintaining that status with the new pitch. It was vital that the shape of the stadium was designed in order to allow as much natural daylight in as possible (Liddell, September 2006). Highbury lacked the superb conference facilities that a modern stadium could offer and also fell short with its media facilities and overall spectator comfort. Arsenal wanted a stadium comprising of all of these, yet still being able to recreate the unique territorial atmosphere generated at the old ground. However due to the site restraints, the design team had a difficult challenge on their hands to turn what was formerly the site of an industrial estate and waste transfer station into a functional, operating stadium to rival the elite. See Chapter 5.1 for more information on the site constraints.
Client Arsenal Football Club Planning supervisor
Project manager/Cost control
AYH plc
AYH plc
Design and Build Contractor Sir Robert McAlpine Designers HOK Sport Architecture- Architect (now POPULOUS) Buro Happold constructing Engineers- structural and M & E Above Fig. 11: Hierarchy diagram showing the project team.
11 | P a g e
3.2 Architects
Some of their most famous projects include:
The architects for this project were Populous (formerly HOK Sport Architecture). They were chosen on the basis of trust and due to the fact the club had previously worked with them and had been satisfied with their work. Populous had designed the North Bank stand at Highbury and they were handed the opportunity to be lead architects for the new stadium. They are a leading architecture firm that design buildings within the world of sport and entertainment to inspire athletes, performers, fans and the rest of the watching world. Once Populous were on board, they aimed to develop a close relationship with the client to understand the driving factors behind the project, providing creative, innovative plans to create imaginatively designed buildings where memories would be made. Their enthusiasm was key as they believed in bringing people and communities together through their designs (Populous, n.d.). Populous explains “We’ve turned master planning on its head by placing these buildings (Sports, cultural and education) in key locations within the heart of the city. The idea is that they become part of a city’s character, its sense of place and identity” (Populous, 2013).
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Wembley Stadium, London, England Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland (Figure 12) Yankee Stadium, New York, USA The 02 London, England and the 02 Dublin, Ireland Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia Nanjing Sports Park, Nanjing, China London Olympic Stadium, London, England (Figure 13) Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, England Estádio da Luz, Benfica, Portugal (Figure 14)
Above Right Fig. 12: Aerial shot of the Aviva Stadium, Ireland. Right Fig. 13: Aerial shot of the London Olympic Stadium, England. Far Right Fig.14: Photograph taken from inside the Estádio da Luz, home to Benfica. Many resemblances can be made with the Emirates Stadium with a near identical design by Populous. Four tier
12 | P a g e
13 | P a g e
3.3 Engineers The design team was appointed in 2000, with Populous appointed as architects and Buro Happold nominated to provide the engineering skills. They were initially asked to come up with conceptual designs on the basis that once the contractor was selected and funding secured, the design team would unite with the contractors to form a design and build partnership (Liddell, September 2006). When Buro Happold first received news that they would be part of the design team, they began by carrying out a full environmental impact assessment of the site before planning on how the construction sequencing of the project would be applied. This allowed construction to commence on site whilst still allowing the waste centre to be in operation. This would be essential to the project and prove to bring some challenges for the team (Happold, n.d.). Buro Happold additionally worked in partnership with Populous on many projects worldwide and together the combination proved to be a formidable force, sharing a similar design approach.
3.4 Contractors The process Arsenal used to decide on the contractor involved the club asking six companies to submit their tenders for the project. Sir Robert McAlpine Limited were successful in that process and the client was very comfortable with their choice as they seemed more than the others to relish the deadline nature and pure challenge of taking on such a huge project. In addition, they had previously completed projects of a similar type where there were time constraints to complete the construction before the start of a sporting season, for example Hampden Park in Glasgow home to Rangers FC. Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd signed a design and build contract with Arsenal and as a result they would be involved in the design stages and therefore would have a greater understanding of the overall project.
14 | P a g e
4.0 Design 4.1 Site Constraints The design team faced several difficulties in designing a stadium to fit into the tight triangular-shaped urban site and also in meeting the height restrictions of 46m imposed by the planners due to the fact this was a new building in the heart of North London. By comparison few other new stadium builds would have such tight constraints. There was a long process of planning regulations, together with requirements which the designers had to take into account to ensure the building would fit into its surrounding environment. It was also important that it did not overpower the neighbouring buildings and cause disruption to local residents. Ashburton Grove was a triangular shaped site contained by two mainline railway lines to the West and the East (highlighted in blue, Figure 15) with a small industrial estate to the South (highlighted with a green rectangle). In the centre sat the council owned recycling unit (highlighted with a green circle, Figure 15) that would need to be repositioned at a cost to the club. The entirety of the site included land stretching beyond the boundaries of the railway lines (highlighted in blue, Figure 16) but the actual stadium footprint would have to be within the yellow boundary lines seen above (Figure 16).
Above Left Fig. 15: Diagrammatic Site plan. Above Right Fig. 16: Site Boundary
15 | P a g e
4.2 Concept From very early on in the process, it became clear that the project was not just about a stadium but it was set to be a huge redevelopment of the surrounding area. The project would be broken down into three key sections comprising the construction of the new stadium, relocation of the Lough Road recycling centre containing most of the facilities previously located at Ashburton Grove and the development of Highbury Square. However, in relation to the stadium there was a crucial design decision to be made at the beginning regarding the general shape and form of the stadium (Figure 17). Arsenal explored all possibilities starting with a more conventional rectangular design similar to that of the previous stadium, however this was discounted instantly as it did not utilise the space efficiently (Building the Emirates Stadium, n.d.). In the end, it came down to simple geometry with the elliptical shape fitting comfortably and almost naturally into the triangular shaped site and utilising every possible inch of the available space. Due to the stadium being shaped like an ellipse, it meant that the nearest residential buildings were located over 100m (seen in Figure 18) away meaning noise levels would become less of an issue and the impact of artificial light would be minimised. This contrasted to their previous stadium situated in and amongst the residential suburbs of North London. Arsenal wanted to create a dramatic venue at Ashburton Grove to highlight their ambitions (Build, n.d.).
Above Right Fig. 17: Design development of the stadium shape. Below Right Fig 18: Final model showing the site in its entirety.
16 | P a g e
4.3 Detailed Design- Architectural features unique to design 4.3.1 Bridges In order to gain planning consent for the build the club would have to demonstrate how 60,000 fans could gain access to and leave the ground without disrupting local residents and preferably by using public transport. The design solution (seen in Figure 19) was for two large bridges to be constructed spanning the width of the railway line tracks, thus allowing people to be able to come and go in an orderly fashion. The aim was to avoid overcrowding which can be a very common problem in most stadia and was certainly an issue at Arsenal’s previous home. The triangular shaped site is linked to the surrounding neighbourhood via two large steel land bridges (Figure 20) which were designed to take the large flows of fans to and from nearby stations. Over 16,000 people would need to be able to escape within a time limit of 8 minutes in case of a stadium evacuation. The South Bridge is 22m wide which is equivalent to the width of the M1 motorway, and the North Bridge is 15m wide, spanning 90m.
Above Right Fig. 19: Conceptual image showing the bridge and stadium in the distance. Right Fig. 20: Photograph by author showing the approach from the North Bridge (17/10/13).
17 | P a g e
4.3.2 Main Frame and Substructure The structure of the Emirates building is quite straightforward combining a mixture of concrete and steel elements. In situ reinforced concrete flooring and framing is used from levels one to three. The lower tier, club tier and box tier is supported by reinforced concrete rakers (Figure 21) whilst the frame and structural steel work rakers support the upper tier and level 4. Precast concrete seating and associated elements are supported by the rakers of each tier. The angle of a stand is known as a rake, the members used to support the stand are known as the rakers (construction.info, n.d.). Compact floors and frame thicknesses allows a maximisation of service zones, whilst on the lower levels there was a possibility for a flexible form of construction with this varying grid of the elliptical design. The main stadium structure was able to be constructed at the same time as off-site manufacture and assembly of the steelwork and precast concrete elements. Eight concrete cores lie just inside the elliptical perimeter of the stadium, this gives stability to the structure and houses many of the vertical circulation routes and service distribution routes. All of the loads are transferred into the ground through a system of 600mm diameter bored cast in situ piles that extend up to 18m into the underlying London clay. Top Fig. 21: The main structure of the building displaying the reinforced concrete rakers used for the club tier. Above Left Fig. 22: Internal photograph of the upper tier concourse. Above Right Fig. 23: Assembly of the roof Trusses inside the perimeter of the Stadium.
18 | P a g e
“I still think the most comfortable stadium seat that you would find anywhere in the world. They are almost unbreakable, we have had 150 events at the stadium if not more. We have replaced 250 seats in that time. Most of those because of material cut. Only two sets of fans have been able to get a seat off the rail- Leeds and Cardiff.” John Beattie (Beattie & Friar, 2013)
The seating tiers at all levels were extensively tested to tune their dynamic response to ensure spectator safety and comfort. The BOX Seat 908 model was produced in Malaysia in bulk and installed by Ferco seating systems. They were designed with the aim of providing “comfortable, soft seating all around” to treat both home and away spectators as equals and with respect, in order to gain the same response in return. The objective of this was to avoid football hooliganism and the outbreaks of violence inside the stadium. The soft seat and backrest provides the spectators with complete comfort and satisfaction to enjoy the occasion. The Emirates Stadium was named the world’s first fully padded seated stadium and has gained the reputation of being “the most comfortable seat” on the market. (theboxseat.co, 2013)
“Treat them like people, they react like people.” (Beattie & Friar, 2013) John Beattie referring to the logic behind selecting a high class choice of seating for the Stadium.
Above Top Left Fig. 24: An example of reinforced concrete rakers. This construction method is used for the lower tier, club tier and box tier. Above Left Fig. 25: The BOX Seat 908 model. Above Right Fig. 26: Installation of the seats during the construction stages
“We bought 65,000 fully upholstered BOX Seats for the new Emirates stadium and now have the most comfortable stadium seats in the world” Keith Edelman, Managing Director of Arsenal FC, 2000-2008 (theboxseat.co, 2013)
19 | P a g e
In all modern stadia, sightlines are a key design criteria. It is crucial spectators have the full experience, and this involves comfortable seating with an uninterrupted view of the pitch. The ability of a spectator to see the pitch over the top of the heads of spectators sitting immediately in front, typically referred to as C, (construction.info, n.d.) can be calculated using the following formulae:
D = The horizontal distance from the eye to the point of focus
N = The riser height
R = Vertical height to the point of focus
T =Seating row depth (Dept of Culture, 2008)
Often in sports stadia, the lower tiers are more inclined in comparison to the upper tiers which are steeper in order to accommodate more seats in a limited space (see Figure 28 below). This strategy is very common in auditorium design, but it is also apparent in the Emirates (construction.info, n.d.)
Right Fig. 27: Sightline Diagram to show where c is valued. Below Fig. 28: Coloured Section showing each level and their uses.
20 | P a g e
4.3.3 Roof The main material of choice for stadium roof designs is steel and there is a variety of innovative solutions which have been developed. Although there is a wide selection of roofing options, there are five commonly used forms and it is possible to combine elements of more than one type (construction.info, n.d.). First of all, there is the post and beam method, regarded as the simplest and essentially the oldest form of roof bearing stadia structure (See Figure 29). It consists of a row of columns lying directly parallel to the pitch and these hold up the roof through an arrangement of beams or trusses. This is very rare in modern stadia but can be seen in most of the older stadiums such as Craven Cottage (Fulham), Goodison Park (Everton) and was evident at Highbury. However, the major issue with this method of construction is the obstructed views for the spectators due to the columns. Cantilever structures are also common in stadia designs and can be considered a fairly standard solution to creating the ultimate spectator experience with unobstructed views (See Figure 30). The front is left free, unlike the previous method as the roof is only supported from the back. Although there are important considerations to be taken into account, including the reversal of forces due to uplift, in order to create an aesthetically pleasing roof that is efficient in its material use, cellular beams are often specified (construction.info, n.d.).
Top Fig. 29: An example of the post and beam method at Goodison Park (Everton). Above Fig. 30: Cantilever structure is evident in Manchester United’s Stadium, Old Trafford.
21 | P a g e
An alternative method is the Tension-tie structure seen at some of the top European football clubs for example at the City of Manchester stadium (Figure 30). They are designed to resist all loads through tension and must resist all upward and downward forces thus creating highly curved shapes. There are two types: Cable net where by a network of cables supports the roof envelope Structural membrane where the roof covering material forms the structure and enclosure.
plan, there is the opportunity for a 3D-roof form. In order to give off a certain appearance that the building is being supported only at the outer edge, ring beams may be used. As a result, the external profile can be minimised. One of the best examples of this can be seen in the UK at the Wimbledon No. 1 tennis court which is circular in plan. Steel plays a huge supporting role as it allows a large span to be created and this is essential to any good stadium. In addition, some modern stadia nowadays have incorporated retractable steel roofs so play need not be disrupted in any circumstances due to adverse weather. A great example can be seen in another stadium designed by Populous architects, Centre Court at Wimbledon (Figure 31) whereby ten roof trusses spanning 77m across the court help to support the Tenara fabric. Another great example in the UK designed also by Populous is the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, officially the largest spanning retractable roof in the world when it was completed in 1999.
Tensile structures are extremely sophisticated and require a lot of thought albeit they are a lightweight and cost effective solution as the need for scaffolding and temporary work is kept to a minimum. Special roof structures such as retractable/ permanent roof coverings are becoming more apparent in modern stadia. Furthermore, in the modern ‘bowl’ stadiums designed elliptically in
Above Left Fig. 31: An example of the cable net structure in use at the City of Manchester Stadium. Right Fig. 32: The retractable roof in use at Centre Court, Wimbledon.
22 | P a g e
23 | P a g e
However, the Emirates Stadium was constructed using an entirely different method of roof construction known as the rigid frame. This can be compared to the post and beam form but it has been refined with the supports being located at the ends only and ultimately resulting in no views being obstructed. The undulating main roof structure at the Emirates covers the spectators from rain and gives them all an uninterrupted view of the pitch that cannot be said about all stadiums across the country. The roof consists of a system of 3 dimensional primary, secondary and tertiary trusses connected together around the perimeter of the roof by a prismatic perimeter truss (See Figure 32). The fabricated trusses have a triangular cross section with circular hollow-section members large enough for a fully-grown man to stand upright inside. The primary span is 204m and all the vertical loads of the roof are transferred into the frame by 8 tripods located at the top of each of the concrete cores. Also, a series of 64 articulated props help to transfer the loads from the perimeter truss down to the rear of the rakers on the upper tier.
Above Fig. 32: Bird’s eye view of the Emirates Stadium during the construction stages. The structural elements of the roof are clearly visible.
24 | P a g e
Top Left Fig. 33: Birds eye view showing the Emirates midway through the construction stage, main structural frame has been erected. Top middle Fig. 34: Close up on roof, permanent scaffolding visible. Top Right Fig. 35: Close up detail of cladded roof. Left Fig 36: Axonometric of structural roof frame, including the 8 cores
25 | P a g e
5.3.4 Signage Populous’s design work on the stadium also included the signage on the outside of the stadium. The club were returning to the 1930s with inspiration for the new lettering being taken from their previous ground, Highbury. Furthermore, along all the approaches to the stadium, there are several club symbols and features to welcome the fans (Populous, 2013). This also helps create a sense of closeness and togetherness with the local community.
Once spectators have arrived on the podium, they are guided around the stadium by colour-coded quadrants to lettered turnstiles where they then enter the stadium using a ticket laser scanner system (Liddell, September 2006). A comparison can once again be made with Ireland’s national stadium for football and rugby union, the Aviva Stadium which was completed in May 2010. Populous decided to use a very similar signage scheme for the sponsor Aviva in Dublin after it was proven to be very successful for
Arsenal. These innovative additions seen at the Emirates and Aviva stadia are key to their designs and help to brand the environment the buildings are set in as well as guiding the spectators in the appropriate direction. The signage you see today was not the original design as the project team spent a lot of time testing out different styles and sizes on site when construction was taking place, before reaching the final design. Mr. Tom Jones describes how a “Good working environment between us all, allowed John Beattie from the stadium management side, ourselves from the design side, the signage and main contactors to really work within the building as it was taking shape to make it work for everyone.” (Jones, 2013) Far Left Fig. 37: Concrete lettering spelling out ‘Arsenal’ Left Fig 38: The stadium layout guide on ground floor level. Right Fig. 39: The new Arsenal Headquartersacts as a gateway to the stadium and a building to accommodate all of Arsenal’s offices.
26 | P a g e
27 | P a g e
5.3.5 Circulation Once the fans have entered the stadium and have arrived in the foyer areas, they are immediately faced by counters serving food and drink with a vast amount of toilets located regularly along the perimeter. From the foyer, spectators are guided towards their necessary vomitory which will bring them to the adjacent aisle to their seat (Liddell, September 2006). The whole system is simple to ensure a well-organised management of the large crowds during games.
5.3.6 Interior The interior of the Emirates Stadium carries on the club’s red and white colour-themed tradition. A StoRend Fibre Plus system was applied onto a large majority of the walls in the Arsenal red and white colours. StoRend Fibre Plus is a highly crack resistant render system which offers complete weather protection. This is a very suitable option for a building of this type, where thousands of people assemble together to watch professional football being played almost on a weekly basis. To ensure long lasting colour and complete protection, StoRend Fibre Plus uses a tough modified levelling render into which a reinforced mesh is rooted. With this example at the Emirates, a red and white acrylic finish render was then applied (sto, n.d.). The main internal concourse is painted in
within the system accommodates movement joints to provide a crack resistant, seamless finish (sto, n.d.)."
1. Fibre-reinforced levelling coat 2. Reinforcing mesh 3. Intermediate Primer 4. Synthetic render finish Above Fig. 40: The different layers of the StoRend Fibre Plus.
For many centuries now, stadium structures have separated areas for the ‘important people’ known today as the executive or VIP areas (Nixdorf, 2008). These areas tend to be more spacious and comfortable with additional luxuries, more so than any other part of the stadium. Private hospitality has become a profitable part of any sports arena and can be distinguished into two different types: Lounges known as Club Level at the Emirates capable of entertaining a vast amount of people, located on Level One. Boxes, single rooms to accommodate a small group of people situated above on Level Two.
white and red for the VIP entrance areas. Charles Cooke of Populous is quoted as saying "StoRend Fibre Plus gave us both the visual appearance and performance required. The reinforcing mesh 28 | P a g e
Club level has been designed to give spectators a unique and ultimate matchday experience. It includes a wide selection of bars and restaurants situated in light, open, double-heighted spaces with views out onto the pitch and outside. Members are also able to complete a full lap of the stadium thus allowing them to gain a sense of the arena from all perspectives. This is a unique experience stimulated from a similar theme in Croke Park, Dublin after the project team visited the stadium for inspiration early on in the design process.
Above Fig. 41: Club Level on Match day. Left Fig. 42: A Club Level floor plan showing the bars, restaurants and local transport links. Below Fig. 43: Local Tube Station, Arsenal.
29 | P a g e
The eight cores each house the circulation zonal areas- four stairways and a passenger lift- and the service rooms (highlighted in red in figures‌). The simplicity in housing these facilities in the cores act as landmarks, helping spectators to familiarise themselves within the building and thus finding their seats (Besterfield.com, 2014).
the podium to see inside the stadium seats (Besterfield.com, 2014). The seating bowl is divided into four tiers, with the lower tier and upper tier accommodating the general admission spectators (see in figures ) whilst the middle two tiers house the club and corporate members (figures‌)
Between each of the cores are the main external facades- some glazed and some of woven stainless steel mesh- allowing people on
Above Fig. 44: Ground Floor Plan drawn by the author
Above Fig. 45: First Floor Plan drawn by the author
30 | P a g e
Above Fig. 46: Second Floor Plan drawn by the author
Above Fig. 47: Third Floor Plan drawn by the author
31 | P a g e
5.3.7 Podium
5.3.8 Sustainability
An elevated pedestrian-only podium surrounds the stadium approximately seven metres above ground level. This is an important design feature of the project as it helps to separate the pedestrian area from the vehicular access below and it also means the spectators have less steps to climb when travelling to the upper tiers in the stadium (Build, n.d.). ‘Podium is used as a strategy for separating vehicles from spectators’ explains Populous architect, Tom Jones (Jones, 2013). The stadium entrance plaza sits on the ground floor and is carved into the podium with the stadium box office, disabled entrance megastore and the Arsenal offices all in close proximity (Lowe, July 2013).
Steel is a common material in most modern stadia as it is a multicyclable material which can be re-used and also offers a zero-waste solution (construction.info, n.d.). The Emirates stadium comprises a large amount of steel, and this is clearly evident in the roof containing a system of dimensional steel trusses. Populous integrated a series of different sustainable features in order to set the Stadium apart from any other. Natural lighting inside the arena is maximised through the use of skylights and glass panels. A passive and mixed mode ventilation system is in use at the Emirates. The key factor that distinguished the construction of the Emirates Stadium apart from any other building of the same type in Europe was that there was a reduction in the construction waste of more than 50% (Lowe, July 2013). Demolition waste on site was later reused or recycled to help create an overall energy and cost-efficient building. In addition, with the roof sloping downwards towards the pitch, pumped drainage for rainwater is essential and so huge pipes are located on the roof to vacuum all the water away and clear from watching spectators. This helps add to the spectators overall comfort as they do not have to deal with rainwater dripping from the roof into the stands which can occur in many stadia across England. Left Fig. 48: Use of glass on façade creates an impression of space. Image to left shows how stadium sits on a podium allowing service area to be situated underneath. Next Page Fig.49: Exterior of the stadium illustrating the effect of the ‘Arsenalisation’ period, in order to make the stadium feel more personal.
32 | P a g e
33 | P a g e
5.3.9 Pitch Arsenal’s previous stadium at Highbury was considered to have one of the best playing surfaces in the Premiership at the time. A keydriving factor for the new stadium design was to continue this tradition and factors such as sunlight and wind had to be controlled. Establishing good turf growth can be an issue for any enclosed bowl-shaped stadia. A huge amount of maintenance is required; a correct balance of wind and sunshine, water from either rain or pipe is essential, and a suitable soil, drainage and fertilisers regime (Liddell, September 2006). Artificial turf surfaces are quite common across Europe in countries where the temperatures are extreme. In 2000, the two main International football associations FIFA AND UEFA, voiced their support for a new artificial surface- Third Generation (3G). Instead of the pure sand in-fill, there are grass-like fibres with rubber granules forming the pile layer (Nixdorf, 2008). However, this choice of turf was never an option for the Emirates Stadium as the FA regulations do not permit artificial surfaces in Premier League matches. Nonetheless, many large football clubs such as Ajax, Glasgow Rangers, Boca Juniors and FC Porto have installed FIFAstandard synthetic turf surfaces into their training facilities (Nixdorf, 2008). The main advantage of using this type of surface as opposed to a natural choice is that they are virtually playable in any weather conditions without interruption and therefore are ideal for training grounds.
Left Fig. 50:
However, Arsenal incorporated a hybrid natural grass system from Desso Sports Systems into their new home (Dessosports.com, n.d.). A modern system input into many top football stadia including Tottenham, Manchester City, and Liverpool, it offers optimal drainage due to the vertically injected fibres and sand in the under layer, which helps to guide the water. Furthermore, it provides multi functionality allowing Arsenal to host a complete variation of events at the arena with music concerts being the most common, which is an important source of revenue for the football club.
34 | P a g e
A maximisation of natural daylight onto the pitch is key in order to maintain a high quality pitch. As a result, a number of provisions were made in the design stage which mainly involved the roof form. The entire roof is sloped downwards towards the turf in order to lower the level of the top opening increasing the amount of daylight that can get through. Illumination levels were checked at the previous stadium where the turf was considered to be one of the best in Europe. The engineers wanted to create this same high standard at the Emirates and so the inner ring of the roof was made translucent to bring in additional light. This also softens shadows onto the pitch which can cause adverse conditions for players and the television coverage (Liddell, September 2006). The undulating roof form also means gaps are created in the corners to allow air circulation and light to get through. “First bowl stadium anywhere in the world that could grow a pitch and maintain it without relaying during a whole season.� Mr. Ken Friar (Beattie & Friar, 2013)
Left Fig. 51: Photograph taken by the author showing the how the sunlight is able to flood into the arena through the corner openings of the roof structure.
35 | P a g e
6.0 Construction 6.1 Construction process The construction process progressed like clockwork thanks in large parts to the precise and careful consideration and planning that went into the project in the early stages. The whole team worked very hard to create a successful scheme and there was a strong team ethic and willingness to succeed. The major concern for everyone involved were the bridges and roof trusses. It was essential that the bridges construction was completed on time as their assembly site fell into the path of the stadium.
first to be completed and the construction team knew that their positioning on time would be critical to meeting the completion date. However, a funding hiccup in 2002 demonstrated how a good relationship between client and constructor was crucial. The club were forced to come up with the funds from their own resources in order to fund the required materials needed for the bridge. Consequently, the whole project was kept in order and on time (Building the Emirates Stadium, n.d.).
They needed to be built and placed into position in order to avoid delay in the construction period to the south end of the stadium (Building the Emirates Stadium, n.d.). Due to this constraint, the construction programme was to commence with the northern parts of the stadium first leaving space for the bridge construction and continued use of the Recycling Centre. The structuring of the terracing in the South stand was scheduled after this in order to create enough space for the roof assembly. Any delays would hold up the construction of the core stadium structure and there was a constant fine balance in terms of effecting one operation as close to the next without losing efficiency in one of the other operations. Both bridges and the roof trusses had to be assembled in the plan of the stadium due to the large stadium footprint and the intriquincy of the site. The North Bridge was the
Left Fig. 52: Colour coded diagram to show the different stages of the construction process.
36 | P a g e
Fig. 53-57: Photographs taken during the construction process
37 | P a g e
38 | P a g e
7.0 Post Completion 7.1 Post Completion The Emirates stadium opened on schedule and on budget, in time for the beginning of the 2006/2007 premier league season. It was July 2006 when the first football match took place at the Emirates, the Dennis Bergkamp Testimonial game. It was to be the beginning of a new era in the club’s history and it was capped by a brilliant opening game. 60,000 people witnessed history and everyone inside the stadium, myself included, appreciated not only the world class football on show that day but also the beautiful and aesthetically pleasing nature of the venue. It is now considered to be a new landmark structure for football (Liddell, September 2006). Far left Fig. 58: View inside the Emirates from the Directors box taken by the author, 24/08/13. Above Fig. 59: Opening game at the Emirates Stadium, Dennis Bergkamp Testimonial. Below Left Fig. 60: Photograph taken by the author, Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund, 22/10/13.
Ken Friar, Arsenal Director: “The project has gone extremely well and we would like to thank Sir Robert McAlpine, and the whole project team, who have done an absolutely fantastic job for us and delivered probably the best club stadium in Europe.” (McAlpine, n.d.) “I travel all the time to stadia, ours is still the best.” (Beattie & Friar, 2013) 39 | P a g e
Above Fig. 61: Panorama shot showing the Highbury square development. Right Fig. 62: Photograph taken from within the Highbury gardens
40 | P a g e
41 | P a g e
8.0 Post Occupancy Review 8.1 Client 13/11/2013 Interview with Mr. Ken Friar, director of Arsenal Football Club and Mr. John Beattie, the Stadium manager “We wouldn’t have been able to do the Emirates stadium without Anthony Spencer’s foresight. It was under our noses but we couldn’t see it. Not only did he find the site for us, but he spent the next few years putting it together.” Mr. Ken Friar spoke very highly of Anthony Spencer who he believed was responsible for much of the success of the project. The club had investigated relocating to sites at either Kings Cross, Hendon or Finsbury Park but when the opportunity came along at Ashburton Grove, it was impossible to resist. A site in such close proximity to the previous stadium was ideal although it proved not to be as simple as that. Arsenal did not understand what they were getting themselves into as they were about to undergo one of the largest redevelopment schemes in the UK. John Beattie said “The stadium is just one little piece of the whole project” and Mr. Ken Friar described how it “was an advantage in hindsight not actually knowing the professional business.” During the lifetime of a football club, it is very rare that they move home to a new stadium hence it is almost like going into the unknown if they ever do. So when
Above Fig. 63: Mr. Ken Friar. Above Right Fig. 64: Mr. John Beattie
Arsenal made the move, they had little experience in the field and were able to make decisions on the spot without hesitating on the impact they could have as they truly did not know. The project team were instrumental in the success of this project. Mr. Ken Friar and Mr. John Beattie both emphasised the importance of a strong team morale and explained how they wanted everyone to feel together and like one big family. The project team would come to away matches in Europe and the football team were given permission to go out on site visits during the construction stages. Mr. John Beattie explained “If you leave an architect to design a stadium on their own you will get the best looking non-functional stadium. If you left me to do it on my own you would get the greatest operational building that would look really horrible. So you have to do it together.” He highlights the importance of togetherness and taking complete responsibility. In the end the stadium was completed on time and on budget, whereas the other North London stadium (Wembley) constructed around the same time finished two years late due to poor relationships and the that fact no one was prepared to take responsibility for major decisions. 42 | P a g e
Mr. Ken Friar also gave his thoughts on the first year at the Emirates during an interview with Arsenal.com. When asked what his impressions of the first year at the clubs new home ground Mr. Friar responded positively “I think it has been quite superb when you think what was involved. It was a massive project and you hope to get it completely right but you know you won't. However the queries that we've had have all been minimal (arsenal.com, 2007).” Ken is addressing small matters such as minor detailing in the diamond club level where clients complained about storage space etc. and complaints were also made about food and drink. Also, the little matter of increasing the number of seats in each row in the director’s box from eleven to twelve in order to evenly proportion the away side’s allocation of tickets- 24. However, these are only minor issues that could easily be resolved. “They were all ones we could deal with. If people had said we can't see from our seats or major things that we could not do anything about, then that would have been very concerning. So, all in all, it has gone very well (arsenal.com, 2007).” … Secondly Mr Friar was asked whether he thought the stadium was still a work in progress and he replied by saying “It will always be a work in progress… Things change, systems change and new ideas come along. We have now dressed the stadium on the inside and we are dressing the corridors. Eventually we will do more and more as time goes on. But you can't do that on day one. If we had, then we would have been a year late. We knew we could do that once we had opened (arsenal.com, 2007).” In 2009 Arsenal football club began their period of Arsenalisation whereby the stadium would be turned
into a visible representation of the club through a variety of artistic and creative means (arsenal.com, 2009). For example, a display of photographs celebrating Arsenal’s achievements in European football, club legends and managers were all mounted on each of the eight cores around the exterior of the stadium. Furthermore, the pattern of a cannon (Arsenal’s logo) was painted onto the seats inside the ground. Arsenal CEO Mr. Ivan Gazidis spoke about the intentions and reasoning behind these changes. “It’s important to recognise that our fans are at the centre of the Club, and that the supporters who attend our games have a right to have their say about the environment in which they watch those games. Listening to our fans, we were hearing a consistent message that, while Emirates is a superb modern stadium, they want us to make it more of a home (arsenal.com, 2007).” Mr. Ken Friar is also quoted as saying “What has really surprised me is the number of other events taking place in the stadium. The tours have really taken off. Conference and banqueting is very successful and… That is very important to the club and often there is a spin-off. People like what they see and they sometimes then come to a match or they book a conference for later in the year. It is like going to a nice restaurant, you'll recommend it (arsenal.com, 2007)." The importance these days in any modern sports and events venue is the fact it can be versatile and act as a multipurpose building. A surprisingly wide variety of events can occur in modern stadia from open-air concerts, weddings, work conferences etc. These are all integrated into stadium plans from the beginning of the design process (Nixdorf, 2008). 43 | P a g e
44 | P a g e
8.2 Architect 08/11/2013
Fig.10: Aerial shot of the Emirates Stadium at night time
Interview with Mr. Tom Jones, Architect, Populous “Arsenal tripled their match day revenue from 30 million to 90 million as a direct result from moving stadium. This was in order to survive in the Premier League by generating more revenue.” Arsenal are a unique club in that they do not live beyond their means and they are held up by UEFA as model club for financial fair play. The pay down of debt on the project has been very quick due to the sale of flats at Highbury and other residential income. Highbury was redeveloped with the stands and heritage being retained, the pitch was used as landscape gardens. This together with the new build on Ashburton Grove “Makes a case why large stadia can be plugged into a city even with a dense urban neighborhood around it. These buildings have a real strength of urban regeneration” Explains Tom Jones. A comparison can be made to the O2 Arena, Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Park all located in what were considered run down parts of London. However, the introduction of a stadium completely revitalised the areas attracting more people and ultimately bringing more business to the shops and restaurants in the community.
Far Left Fig. 65: Emirates Stadium at night. Left Fig. 66: Tom Jones
Tom reveals the main reason behind the project running smoothly and coming in on budget. “We worked with their (Arsenal’s) project management team to produce a strong set of drawings- employer’s requirements- very early on to give to the contactors. Hence Arsenal received fair prices and everyone knew what was expected of them.” This once again emphasises the strong morale and togetherness within the project team. “Most of our projects we work on now our design and build. McAlpine who we work with a lot, bring a lot to the design process.”
45 | P a g e
8.3 Attendees: Questionairre Results Please see Appendix 2 for Questionairre
Right Fig. 67: Table showing the results of multiple choice questions from the Questionnaire
46 | P a g e
8.3 Attendees: Questionairre Results Analysis Total Average Average Rating
The reaction from the questionaires was pretty good with the majority of people reacting positively to the Emirates stadium. Both the male and female participants commented on the internal appearance of the stadium as being visually pleasing and how easy it was to navigate around the stadium. With no surprise, the reaction to the seating in the stadium was very positive although some people did comment that there was too much leg room for a football stadium.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Male Female Average
A minority of the participants commented on the appearance of the bridge and the fact the building does not fit into its surrounding area, as the main negative points in the project. “Lovely Stadium- area around it is not so nice” and “Fabulous arena that stands out in a depressed area” were just a few of the comments. While they are complimenting the stadium itself, there is still a reminder of its surrounding area and the fact the building deserves to be situated in a less deprived area. Although this part of North London has not been the nicest place to visit, it is continually improving and it is still the home of Arsenal. The Emirates Stadium was built for the fans.
Question
Right Fig. 68: Bar chart showing the average results of the questionnaires.
47 | P a g e
9.0 Conclusion The analysis and research I have conducted into the Emirates Stadium from its initial planning stages to the finished state of the art building we see today has given me a greater understanding of the magnitude of the project. The initial plan to simply design a new football stadium however turned into a greater project, with both the regeneration of the area around the Ashburton Grove site as well as the impressive development around the old stadium at Highbury. Most of the residents who initially had concerns about such a large development have been won over by the attractiveness of the stadium and the enhancement it has brought to that particular part of Islington (this can be seen in the results of the survey). It was an incredible journey for the Arsenal FC management, the specialist architects Populous and the experienced construction firm of Robert McAlpine who in working together as a team, each brought their own strengths and expertise to bear on the project. Previous experience in working together at the old stadium proved to be key as the level of trust built up ensured all issues were addressed and ironed out in an open way. The use of bridges over the railway line helped overcome a major site constraint as it meant spectators could access the stadium in a safe and efficient way.
League while at the same time providing spectators with an excellent view of the game regardless of where they are seated in the stadium. The difficulty in funding the project, leading to a one year delay, was used as a positive by the team and enabled the architects and construction team to refine the project design and plan.
Above Fig. 69: Physical model constructed by Author. Below Fig. 70: Final model
The design of the new stadium was first class and maintained the standard of having the best playing surface in the English Premier 48 | P a g e
The choice of an elliptical shape ensured that the Stadium would fit into the constrained site while the construction materials combined a mixture of glass, steel and concrete. The roof construction used the rigid frame technique with the supports located at both ends and not obscuring any views. As well as providing cover to all spectators from the rain the translucent ring allowed daylight to penetrate onto the pitch and help with the growth of the grass, which was of great benefit in maintaining a high quality playing surface. The project team’s attention to detail can be seen in the seating provided all around the stadium with the project team purchasing 65,000 Malaysian manufactured padded seats that were rigorously tested to ensure they could withstand even the most aggressive football hooligans. The materials and construction techniques used by the architects were both efficient and sustainable. The end result is a stadium, greatly admired and envied throughout the world, that ensures the management and supporters of Arsenal can be very proud.
49 | P a g e
10.0 References Text -arsenal.com, 2004. Arsenal confirms funding for stadium project. [Online] Available at: http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/lateststadium-news/arsenal-confirms-funding-for-stadium-project [Accessed 24 February 2014].
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/3715678.stm [Accessed 6 january 2014].
-arsenal.com, 2007. Ken Friar 'pleasantly surprised' by Emirates. [Online] Available at: http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/lateststadium-news/ken-friar-pleasantly-surprised-by-emirates [Accessed 25 september 2013].
-besterfield.com, 2014. Arsenal FC. [Online] Available at: http://www.besterfield.com/projects/arsenal/arsenal.htm [Accessed 22 february 2014].
-arsenal.com, 2009. Club begins arsenalisation of the emirates. [Online] Available at: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/club-beginsarsenalisation-of-the-emirates [Accessed 2014 february 22]. -Arsenal.com, 2013. The Arsenal Way. [Online] Available at: http://www.arsenal.com/the-club/the-arsenal-way [Accessed 24 February 2014]. -Arsenal, 2009. Emirates Stadium. [Online] Available at: http://www.arsenal.com/assets/_files/documents/oct_09/gun__1255358 919_012-015.emirates.pdf [Accessed 27 november 2013]. -BBC, 2004. Arsenal name new ground. [Online] Available at:
-Beattie, J. & Friar, K., 2013. Interview [Interview] (13 November 2013).
-Build, D., n.d. Emirates Stadium, United Kingdom. [Online] Available at: http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/ashburton/ [Accessed 16 february 2014]. -Building the Emirates Stadium. 2006. [Film] England: Startline. Building the Emirates Stadium. n.d. [Film] s.l.: Startline Media. -Conn, D., 2005. The Beautiful game?: Searching for the soul of football. s.l.:Yellow Jersey. New ed edition. -construction.info, S., n.d. Leisure Buildings. [Online] Available at: http://www.steelconstruction.info/Leisure_buildings#Sustainability_2 [Accessed 28 january 2014]. -Dept of Culture, M. a. S., 2008. Spectator accommodation – seating. In: Guide to safety at sports grounds. s.l.:s.n., p. 109.
50 | P a g e
-Dessosports.com, n.d. Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium UK. [Online] Available at: http://www.dessosports.com/sports/football/footballprojects/arsenal-fc-emirates-stadium-uk [Accessed 21 JANUARY 2014]. -Frank, S. & Steets, S., 2010. Stadium Worlds: Football, Space and the Built Environment. s.l.:Routledge . -Happold, B., n.d. Arsenal Emirates Stadium. [Online] Available at: http://www.burohappold.com/projects/project/arsenalemirates-stadium-51/ [Accessed 10 february 2014]. -Jones, T., 2013. Interview [Interview] (8 November 2013). -Liddell, I., September 2006. Pitch Perfect. The construction of the New Arsenal Emirates Stadium, pp. 10-15. -Lowe, D., July 2013. Football Stadia. In: Commercial Management: Theory and Practice. s.l.:John Wiley & Sons, 2013, pp. 400-409. -Marg, V., 2010. From Cape Town to Brasilia: new stadiums by GMP= Neue Stadien der Architekten von Gerken, Marg und Partner. s.l.:Prestel; Bilingual edition. McAlpine, S. R., n.d. Emirates Stadium. [Online] Available at: http://www.sir-robert-
mcalpine.com/projects/?thumbnailIndex=4&id=489 [Accessed 22 february 2014]. -Nixdorf, S., 2008. Natural vs Artificial turf. In: Technical recommendations for Grandstands in Modern Stadia. Stadium Atlas. s.l.:Wiley VCH, pp. 236243. -Populous, 2012. Made to measure. [Online] Available at: http://populous.com/posts/made-to-measure/ [Accessed 2014 January 9]. -Populous, 2013. Moments of Inspiration. s.l.:s.n. Populous, n.d. Architecture. [brochure] -Available at: http://populous.com/expertise/architecture/ [Accessed 28 December 2013]. -Populous, n.d. Architecture. [Online] Available at: http://populous.com/expertise/architecture/ [Accessed 20 december 2013]. -sto, n.d. Arsenal Emirates Stadium. [Online] Available at: http://www.sto.co.uk/27868_EN-Arsenal_Emirates_Stadium.htm [Accessed 4 february 2014]. -theboxseat.co, 2013. The Box Seat. [Online] Available at: http://www.theboxseat.co/category/products/ [Accessed 28 September 2013].
51 | P a g e
Illustration -Fig. 1. http://www.arsenal.com/history/arsenal-stadiumhighbury/arsenal-stadium-a-history -Fig. 2. http://www.designbuildnetwork.com/projects/ashburton/ashburton2.html -Fig. 3. http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/first-teamsquad-photocall-pictures -Fig. 4. http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/championsleague/2013-2014/arsenal-napoli-624060.html -Fig. 5. http://www.apm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Arcadis_Pre sentation_(Resized).pdf -Fig. 6. http://www.apm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Arcadis_Pre sentation_(Resized).pdf -Fig. 7. http://www.apm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Arcadis_Pre sentation_ (Resized).pdf -Fig. 8. http://www.apm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Arcadis_Pre sentation_(Resized).pdf -Fig. 9. http://www.apm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Arcadis_Pre sentation_(Resized).pdf -Fig. 10. http://www.flickr.com/photos/73428496@N00/196492980/ -Fig. 11. http://www.startline.biz/our-work/building-the-emiratesstadium/ -Fig. 12. http://www.irishrugby.ie/aviva -Fig. 13. http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jun/19/olympicpark-london-2012-games -Fig. 14. http://www.stadiumguide.com/lisboa/ -Fig. 15. Authors drawing -Fig. 16. Authors drawing http://www.arsenal.com/the-club/corporate-info/the-arsenal-board ken friar
-Fig. 17. http://www.startline.biz/our-work/building-the-emiratesstadium/ -Fig. 18. http://fc-arsenal.by/photo_emirates.html -Fig. 19. http://www.designbuildnetwork.com/projects/ashburton/ashburton9.html -Fig. 20. Authors photograph -Fig. 21. http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emiratesstadium-picture-gallery -Fig. 22. http://www.apm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Arcadis_ Presentation_ (Resized).pdf -Fig. 23. http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emiratesstadium-picture-gallery -Fig. 24. http://eng.prefabricatspujol.com/products/modular-andindustrialised-construction/sport-stadiums/stadia-and-rakers.html -Fig. 25. http://www.theboxseat.co/category/products/ -Fig. 26. http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emiratesstadium-picture-gallery -Fig. 27. http://www.steelconstruction.info/File:P_Fig23.png -Fig. 28.Authors drawing -Fig. 29. http://losestadiosdelmundo.files. wordpress.com/2013/06/2670567453_651657057c_z.jpg -Fig. 30. http://openbuildings.com/buildings/city-of-manchesterstadium-profile-1414 -Fig. 31. http://en.urbarama.com/project/wimbledon-centre-courtredevelopment -Fig. 32: http://www.besterfield.com/projects/arsenal/arsenal.htm -Fig. 33: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emiratesstadium-picture-gallery
52 | P a g e
-Fig. 34: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emiratesstadium-picture-gallery -Fig. 35. http://www.sir-robertmcalpine.com/files/project/489/ES_detail02.jpg -Fig. 36: http://www.apm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Arcadis _Presentation_(Resized).pdf -Fig. 37: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emiratesstadium-picture-gallery -Fig. 38: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/emiratesstadium-stands-to-be-re-named -Fig. 39: http://www.sto.co.uk/24175_EN-Synthetic_render_systemsStoRend_Fibre_Plus.htm -Fig 40: http://www.arsenal.com/platinum/club-level/bars -Fig 41. http://www.arsenal.com/platinum/club-level/bars -Fig 42: http://www.arsenal.com/platinum/club-level/bars -Fig 43: Author‘s Photograph -Fig 44: Author’s drawing -Fig 45: Author’s drawing -Fig 46: Author’s drawing -Fig 47: Author’s drawing -Fig 48: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium -Fig 49: Author‘s Photograph -Fig 50: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emirates-stadiumpicture-gallery -Fig 51: Author‘s Photograph -Fig 52: Author‘s drawing
-Fig 53: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emirates-stadiumpicture-gallery -Fig 54: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emirates-stadiumpicture-gallery -Fig 55: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emirates-stadiumpicture-gallery -Fig 56: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emirates-stadiumpicture-gallery -Fig 57: http://www.arsenal.com/emirates-stadium/emirates-stadiumpicture-gallery -Fig 58: Author‘s Photograph -Fig 59: http://www.ilbe.com/2088594208 -Fig 60: Author‘s Photograph -Fig 61: Author‘s Photograph -Fig 62: Author‘s Photograph -Fig 63: http://www.arsenal.com/the-club/corporate-info/the-arsenalboard -Fig 64: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/meet-thestadium-manager-john-beattie -Fig 65: http://www.besterfield.com/projects/arsenal/arsenal.htm -Fig 66: http://populous.com/profile/tjones/ -Fig 67: Authors drawing -Fig 68: Authors drawing -Fig 69: Author‘s Photograph -Fig 70: Author‘s Photograph
53 | P a g e
11.0 Appendix 11.1 Orthographic Drawings
54 | P a g e
55 | P a g e
56 | P a g e
57 | P a g e
58 | P a g e
59 | P a g e
60 | P a g e
11.2 Interview Questions Architect 1. Is it only Sports buildings Populous apply for? 2. Is there strong competition from other firms in the Sports Sector? Who? 3. How do you know which projects are best to go for? 4. What has been your most enjoyable project? Why? 5. What has been the most successful project for Populous? Why? 6. Can you talk me through the project from start to finish? 7. What effects did the project have on Populous? 8. Were Arsenal Football Club good clients to work for? Were you treated well? 9. How is the Stadium ventilated? 10. Can you talk me through the whole design process? 11. Do you have any regrets?
10. How did you make your decisions about deciding on the architects? Engineers? Contractors? 11. Do you have any regrets?
Client 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
What are your thoughts on the end project? Were you pleased with the end build? Would you have preferred to hide the roof structure? Were there any issues during the project? Did the end product meet all the requirements you set out in the initial stages? Have you managed to recreate the atmosphere from the old stadium? What is your favourite attribute of the Emirates Stadium? Do you feel like you have won over the fans after the controversial move? If you could do it again, how would you do it differently? 61 | P a g e
11.2 Questionnaires
62 | P a g e
11.3 Major Construction Milestones February 2002- Sir Robert McAlpine appointed as contractor August 2002- Demolition commences at Lough Road April 2003- Funding delayed due to one of the banks pulling out of the project March 2004- Construction recommences after Peter Hill-Wood announces funding has been secured May 2004- North Bridge positioned July 2004- Lough Road waste and recycling centre completed August 2004- South Bridge positioned October 2004- Stadium named ‘Emirates Stadium’ December 2004- North roof trusses lifted April 2005- South roof trusses lifted and joined to North half August 2005- First ball kicked at stadium September 2005- Power on February 2006- Roof completed April 2006- Pitch seeded May 2006- Mechanical and electrical installations completed July 2006- First match staged- Dennis Bergkamp Testimonial
63 | P a g e