View source for Leeds Arena

==Article in [https://www.newsteelconstruction.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/digi/2012pdf/NSCMar2012.pdf#page=16 NSC March 2012]==
{{#image_template:image=File:Leeds_Arena-1.jpg|caption=The completed venue will form a signature highlight to the city centre|align=right |wrap=true|width=400}}
'''[[Trusses|Trusses]] take centre stage'''<br>
''By Martin Cooper''<br>

A series of long span [[Trusses|trusses]] form the roof and stage for a spectacular new arena under [[Construction|construction]] in Leeds.
 
Many cities and towns in the UK have entertainment venues, but a new arena being built in Leeds is far from being run of the mill as it will be a focal point for regeneration as well as acting as a commanding gateway to the city centre. With a seated capacity of 12,500, Leeds Arena has already been described as having one of the most striking and unique designs in Europe, satisfying the local populace’s and client’s desire for a building that is distinctive to the city.
 
The main [[Facades_and_interfaces|façades]] are rounded and form a domed effect which ends with a flat roof. Formed with two columns, one sloping outwards and a second member spliced to the top and cranked inwards, these curving elevations will be clad with a honeycomb design of glazed panels which will feature a changing kaleidoscope of coloured lights.
 
The city council says that in the evening, the front of the building will change colour or pattern dependent on the show or mood of the arena at the time. The venue may be pink for a Pink show, purple for Prince, or green for Green Day! The options are endless and the completed project will certainly add to the night time cityscape.
{{#image_template:image=File:Leeds_Arena-2.jpg|caption=Cranked columns form the venue’s exterior shape |align=left|wrap=true|width=300}}
Creating a large indoor arena with spans of up to 70m will invariably mean a structure built with steel. “Entertainment venues need [[The_case_for_steel#Flexibility for changing times|large column free spaces]] and steel offers the best and most [[The_case_for_steel#Cost savings in a competitive market|cost effective]] method of achieving these requirements,” says Gordon Alexander, BAM Construction Manager.
 
Work on site began early last year with some major earthworks needed to prepare the site in readiness for the [[Construction|construction]] phase which kicked off in May. Two [[Concept_design#Concrete or steel cores|concrete cores]] and a couple of shear walls were then built, providing the [[Concept_design#Structural options for stability|stability for the steelwork]] which was then able to begin its [[Construction#Steel erection|erection]] programme.
 
Along with the perimeter curving walls and the initial terracing zones, one of the first parts of the steel frame to be erected, by Fisher Engineering (now Severfield (NI) Ltd), was also the largest single component and the most time consuming element on the project. The steelwork [[Construction#Construction sequence|erection sequence]] dictated that the 54m long × 10.5m deep proscenium arch [[Trusses|truss]] (spanning the arena’s stage) would have to be lifted into place early, as it would then allow the roof [[Trusses|trusses]], many of which connect to this 180t [[Trusses|truss]], to be lifted into place.
 
[[Fabrication|Fabricating]] such a large [[Trusses|truss]] and then [[Fabrication#Handling and transportation|getting it to site]] required a lot of planning and [[Design|design]] work from Fisher  (now Severfield (NI) Ltd) , as well as the entire project team. “We had to deliver the [[Trusses|truss]] to site in 32 separate sections as the local authority has a maximum [[Fabrication#Handling and transportation|axle weight restriction]] of 12t per axle,” explains Robin Hamill, Fisher Engineering (now Severfield (NI) Ltd) Project Manager. “This meant the entire [[Trusses|truss]] was delivered in nine trailer loads.”
{{#image_template:image=File:Leeds_Arena-4.jpg|caption= The proscenium [[Trusses|truss]]|align=right|wrap=true|width=300}}
Fisher Engineering (now Severfield (NI) Ltd) had to ensure that they allocated each of the 32 steel sections to a specific trailer load. This provided the site assembly team with the correct sequence of steel pieces for putting the [[Trusses|truss]] together. Assembling the [[Trusses|truss]] took three weeks, and in order to make the lifting procedure as easy as possible this work was carried out adjacent to the area where it would be installed. Once assembled, the challenge was to get the [[Trusses|truss]] into place and then stabilised by its surrounding and supporting steelwork.
 
Two large [[Construction#Mobile cranes|mobile cranes]] (450t capacity and 500t capacity) were needed to install the [[Trusses|truss]]. However, having to utilise such large [[Construction#Mobile cranes|cranes]] for this job meant the project team had the challenge of getting these machines to site, bearing in mind both units exceeded the permitted road axle weight allowance, due to their ballast counter weights and telescopic jibs. The [[Construction#Mobile cranes|cranes]] had to be stripped down to reduce their overall weight and [[Fabrication#Handling and transportation|delivered to site]] on a number of trailers along with their accompanying rigging.
{{#image_template:image=File:L6 image.JPG|caption=Steel rakers support the terracing units of the arena|align=left|wrap=true|width=300}}
Once the [[Construction#Mobile cranes|cranes]] and the [[Trusses|truss]] were assembled the lifting procedure was able to begin and this lasted three consecutive days. “We actually had the [[Trusses|truss]] up and connected to its two supporting columns within the first eight hours,” explains Mr Hamill. “However, the [[Construction#Mobile cranes|cranes]] had to remain in position holding the [[Trusses|truss]] until we had the steel frame to the rear erected as this would give it stability. [[Construction#Steel erection|Erecting]] the frame took 75 hours of continuous working, day and night.”
 
After the proscenium [[Trusses|truss]] and all of its supporting steelwork was up, the two [[Construction#Mobile cranes|cranes]] were repositioned so they could begin lifting the roof [[Trusses|trusses]] into place. The 450t unit remained in the middle of the arena, close to the proscenium arch, while the 500 tonner was relocated to a plot outside of the arena, close to the site offices.
 
“Even though the 500-tonner had to lift [[Trusses|truss]] sections up and over the erected arena steelwork, by placing it outside it was next to an area were we could assemble large [[Trusses|truss]] sections without interfering with other site activities,” explains Mr Hamill.
{{#image_template:image=File:Leeds_Arena-3.jpg|caption=The longest roof [[Trusses|truss]] is 72m long|align=right|wrap=true|width=300}}
Half of the roof [[Trusses|trusses]]’ lengths were assembled inside the arena and this allowed the two [[Construction#Mobile cranes|cranes]] to install the 13 roof [[Trusses|trusses]] in a series of tandem lifts. Fisher (now Severfield (NI) Ltd) assembled and erected one complete roof [[Trusses|truss]] per week, which included installing the connecting beams to adjacent steelwork. The largest of the roof [[Trusses|trusses]] is 72m-long with the [[Trusses|trusses]] either side sequentially getting shorter as the arena’s shape tapers.
 
“Logistics has been the main challenge on this project so far,” sums up Mr Alexander. “We’ve had large steel segments being assembled in the middle of the arena, while the area has also had to accommodate four or five [[Construction#Mobile cranes|cranes]] and numerous cherrypickers for the steel [[Construction#Steel erection|erection]]  process. With so many machines working in a tight environment, planning has been key.”
 
[[Construction]] work is scheduled to be completed in March 2013, and once a two month fit-out programme has been undertaken, the venue will be ready for a summer opening.
 
{|class="wikitable" width=500
|-
|'''Architect'''||Populous
|-
|'''Structural Engineer'''||Arup
|-
|'''Steelwork Contractor'''||Fisher Engineering (now Severfield (NI) Ltd)
|-
|'''Main Contractor'''||BAM Construction
|-
|'''Client'''||Leeds City Council
|}

[[Category:Case studies - Leisure buildings]]