UK
Ireland
Scotland
London
Construction News
18/11/2011
Massive Steel Beam Takes Centre Stage
The biggest support act for the Leeds Arena has arrived and it's not a rock band but a 180 tonne, 45 meter long proscenium steel beam which will take pride of place supporting the main stage.
The beam is the heaviest piece of steel in the entire arena building, providing stability to a complex steel structure involving 3,500 tonnes of steel, which would stretch for 24 miles from Leeds to York if laid out flat.
It will take two cranes each weighing 500 tonnes to lift it into place. Once it is lifted 12 people will work throughout the night and for around 36 consecutive hours to hoist it into place.
Fixing the proscenium beam is an important milestone in BAM's construction of the £60m Leeds Arena project as it signifies that work to build the 13,500 capacity concert and events venue continues apace and to programme in time for the opening in 2013.
A peek at the city centre site's public viewing platform at Clay Pit Lane reveals a hive of activity. The foundations and two main staircases are now in place along with a lift shaft and two concrete core structures, together offering an exciting glimpse of what the building will look like when complete.
At any one time up to now, 75 men and women are working on the site, school visits are a frequent occurrence and opportunities are now becoming available for local people to benefit from apprenticeships and job opportunities at the site.
Gordon Alexander, BAM's Construction Manager for the Leeds Arena, said: "The proscenium beam is a crucial part of the whole structure of the Leeds Arena and an important milestone in the scheme as this is when the building really starts to take shape. Once in place it will create the archway for the stage and support the entire roof structure.
"Getting the beam in place at this stage is also an indication that construction is progressing as planned and to programme which is great news."
The Leeds Arena will be a unique theatre style venue with all seats facing the performance area each with perfect sight-lines. Spectators will be much closer to the stage than other traditional bowl venues. The external design is a stunning honeycomb design of lights that can change colour to reflect the mood of the arena event at the time.
(CD)
The beam is the heaviest piece of steel in the entire arena building, providing stability to a complex steel structure involving 3,500 tonnes of steel, which would stretch for 24 miles from Leeds to York if laid out flat.
It will take two cranes each weighing 500 tonnes to lift it into place. Once it is lifted 12 people will work throughout the night and for around 36 consecutive hours to hoist it into place.
Fixing the proscenium beam is an important milestone in BAM's construction of the £60m Leeds Arena project as it signifies that work to build the 13,500 capacity concert and events venue continues apace and to programme in time for the opening in 2013.
-- Advertisement --
A peek at the city centre site's public viewing platform at Clay Pit Lane reveals a hive of activity. The foundations and two main staircases are now in place along with a lift shaft and two concrete core structures, together offering an exciting glimpse of what the building will look like when complete.
At any one time up to now, 75 men and women are working on the site, school visits are a frequent occurrence and opportunities are now becoming available for local people to benefit from apprenticeships and job opportunities at the site.
Gordon Alexander, BAM's Construction Manager for the Leeds Arena, said: "The proscenium beam is a crucial part of the whole structure of the Leeds Arena and an important milestone in the scheme as this is when the building really starts to take shape. Once in place it will create the archway for the stage and support the entire roof structure.
"Getting the beam in place at this stage is also an indication that construction is progressing as planned and to programme which is great news."
The Leeds Arena will be a unique theatre style venue with all seats facing the performance area each with perfect sight-lines. Spectators will be much closer to the stage than other traditional bowl venues. The external design is a stunning honeycomb design of lights that can change colour to reflect the mood of the arena event at the time.
(CD)
Latest Construction News
29/01/2025
Caddick Construction has been awarded a £43 million contract to deliver the first phase of Cole Waterhouse's flagship regeneration scheme in Digbeth, Birmingham.
The project, known as Upper Trinity Street, marks a significant step in the area’s transformation.
Spanning 182,986 square feet, the re
29/01/2025
McLaren Construction has been appointed by O&H Properties to deliver the first phase of a £60 million Foster & Partners-designed development at the corner of New Bond Street and Grafton Street in London’s West End.
The seven-storey, 5,400 square metre prime retail and office scheme will feature ret
29/01/2025
GMI Construction Group has been awarded a contract to develop three high-specification warehouse units totalling over 175,000 square feet at Precedent Drive, Milton Keynes.
The £20 million project, commissioned by DV5 Last Mile Developments (UK) Ltd, a joint venture between Coltham and Delancey Re
29/01/2025
Plans for 106 sustainable new homes in Southville, a neighbourhood in South Bristol, have been approved as the city seeks to increase housing delivery to address growing demand.
Top 10 award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group will create a £60 million development on Raleigh Road, on land that was
29/01/2025
Bouygues UK has reached a major milestone in the fourth phase of the Hallsville Quarter regeneration project in Canning Town, London.
The project, part of the £3.7 billion Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme, recently held a topping out ceremony, marking the completion of the 11-s
29/01/2025
Willmott Dixon Interiors is carrying out a significant upgrade to the roof of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, one of London's most iconic cultural landmarks.
As part of the £12 million project, the company is installing over 23,000 square feet of sun-protected glazing above the museum’s
29/01/2025
Equans has been appointed by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils to carry out crucial decarbonisation work across the councils' housing stock, using funding secured through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).
The councils used the South East Consortium's Zero Carbon Framework to s
29/01/2025
In the world of construction, the quest for energy efficiency and sustainability is ever-evolving. Among the array of solutions available, EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) insulation stands out as a versatile and effective option for enhancing the thermal performance of buildings, particularly when used f
29/01/2025
BCP Council has completed significant coastal protection works at Hamworthy Park, ensuring its resilience against erosion for the next 20 years.
A 200-metre stretch of sea wall along the eastern promenade has been reinforced using low-carbon concrete, while new steps have been constructed to improv
29/01/2025
Geo-environmental consultancy and remediation contractor, The LK Group, has strengthened its team with a trio of recruits.
The multidisciplinary company's latest raft of hires comprises a new director, associate director and remediation manager.
The geo-environmental specialist, headquartered i
