The new $280 million Suncorp Stadium redevelopment, formerly known as Lang Park, will transform the comfort of spectators for Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer, when completed early in June this year. Making a change from the past, all spectators will now be comfortably and individually seated, with 75% of all seats given protection from the sun and weather by being undercover.
Covering some 40,000 seats of the expanded 52,500 seat capacity stadium, the massive 23,000m2 of grandstand roof required some innovative thinking to reduce costs and enhance safety during construction. Architects HOK Sport + Venue + Event and PDT Architects in conjunction with structural engineer, Ove Arup and Partners, came up with an innovative roof design. The principle adopted is to assemble the purlins and soffit linings in panels on the ground (under), then lift each section by crane into position (up). Hence, the catch phrase for this operation, suiting a football stadium, of ‘Up and Under’. The reality is in fact ‘Under and Up’.
This innovative approach to assembling the massive roof improved the procurement and safety of construction. Due to the roof fixers working at ground level, the need for scaffolding was eliminated, which proved to be both time and cost effective over conventional roof fixing.
Contributing to the efficiency of this project is the newly released, LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® patented roof decking profile from BHP Steel Lysaght . Due to its unique profile, LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH incorporates transverse micro-flutes in the pan, adding to the robustness of the high-strength steel. This outstanding new LYSAGHT product enables long spans, and extremely long runs. The combination of the attractive micro fluting and the robust wide ribs, provides an elegant, state of the art roof cladding system, appropriate for the high profile of this major new sporting icon.
