FEATURE STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN AWARDS
COMMENDATION
WEST STAND
KINGSTON COMMUNICATIONS STADIUM - HULL
Architect The Miller Partnership The main sections of the roof, the ‘A-frames’, were assembled and
Structural Engineer Anthony Hunt Associates Ltd welded at the rear of the West Stand and lifted into place as complete
frames using crawler cranes on the outside of the structure. This
Steelwork Contractor Watson Steel Structures Ltd
resulted in lifts of up to 110 tonnes. In order to minimise out-of-balance
Main Contractor Birse Stadia Ltd forces, the ‘A-frames’ were erected in a symmetric manner from the
Client Kingston-upon-Hull City Council centre outwards. Hence, the two central ‘A-frames’ were erected first,
and then joined together by erecting RHS infill purlins between them.
This process was subsequently repeated for the two central and the
The Kingston Communications Stadium is unique in a number of ways.
two outer ‘A-frames’, after which the roof decking could be laid. The
Firstly, it is thought to be the only stadium to be constructed in an
west side of the pitch is lit from a dedicated lighting gantry slung off the
‘asymmetric bowl’ form. This gives the flexibility of combining single
underside of the West Stand roof.
and double tier stands, whilst an effortless transition between the
single and double tier stands maintains the impression of one The total build cost of £27.5M equates to £1,100 per seat, which is
continuous building structure. not significantly higher than for a more conventional stadium.
This continuity is enhanced by the adoption of an internal public The first ‘sod’ was dug in October 2001, whilst the first match was
concourse that runs the full perimeter of the stadium. Unusually, this played only 14 months later in December 2002. Further, the
concourse is at first floor level, thereby freeing up commercially production of construction information commenced just two months
valuable space at ground floor level. before the start on site date.
Further, it is the first stadium to be built entirely within an existing public
park. However, rather than destroying the park environment the
stadium ‘respects’ the park, and will in fact introduce new visitors to it.
The West Stand roof is arguably the most interesting aspect of the
JUDGES’ COMMENT
stadium. Due to the significant overhang of the roof and the presence
An asymmetric bowl form, possibly unique at this
of the upper tier, the cantilever solution used for the other stands was
not appropriate here. Consequently, a stayed rafter solution was time, creates a spectacular roof for this 25,000 seat
adopted, using relatively slender 406mm diameter CHS stays to community stadium set in beautiful parkland. In
support box section rafters which are fabricated out of steel plate, and
meeting the brief this enables a combination of a
range from 1350mm deep at their supports, down to 600mm at
the tip. single and double tier stand to be accommodated
The CHS stays are up to 40m long, and rise gently in pairs up to the under one continuous building structure. A simple
rear of the roof, where they meet six CHS section ‘A-frames’ which solution has been produced that is elegant in its
transfer the significant vertical and overturning forces down the stand, design, rational in its engineering technology and
via terracing raker beams and diagonal bracing hidden within partition
walls between hospitality boxes. To overcome potential problems economic in its means of implementation.
associated with self-weight deflection and bending moments, the CHS
stays were cranked at third points so that the deflected form The development gives the community a facility that
approximated to a straight line. is great value for money – Hull can be proud of this
multi-purpose stadium.
