STADIUM DESIGN

GUIDE – TABLE
OF CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction Page 2
2.0 Intention of the Design Guide 3
3.0 General Design Guidelines 4
4.0 Guidelines for Design Contexts 6
• Street Context 6
• Neighbourhood and Skyline Context 8
5.0 Guidelines for Building Tops 10
6.0 Guidelines for Building Bulk 11
7.0 Guidelines for Access and Connection 13

Volume 2 contents page

Wellington City District Plan Page 1

1.0 Introduction
This design guide provides design principles to assist in achieving an appropriately
high quality stadium development that makes a positive contribution to the public
environment.

A stadium is strongly differentiated in shape and form from all other likely types of
building in the central city. It can, by its formal quality and the value of the public
facility that it provides, set the context for future development in this part of the city.
It should also allow for connection to and be part of a coherent and comprehensive
space structure within the surrounding area.

The stadium site is ideally suited for its intended use, being large, flat and also close
enough to the city to be identified with its centre and to facilitate excellent access to
all modes of public transport. Furthermore this site at the harbour’s edge, defining a
major arterial route into the city, provides an ideal setting for a building that by
virtue of its scale and function alone will become a major landmark and make a
positive contribution to the urban form and image of the city.

Wellington City District Plan Page 2

2.0 Intention of the Design Guide
The general intention of this design guide is to facilitate the development of a major
regional stadium in the central area of the city with consideration of the quality of
the public environment both in the local and city-wide context.

It aims to identify the significant ways in which new development can contribute
positively to the public environment and is based on the premise that the unique
form and scale of a stadium will enhance rather than detract from the urban form of
the city.

Such a large building and its attendant structures should not adversely affect either
the inhabitants of the central city or the wider community. The design guide
provides a means of avoiding, mitigating or remedying adverse effects that may
stem from inappropriate design.

While the applicant is required to demonstrate through the design of new

development, a commitment to enhancing the public environment in the local and
city wide context, beyond this intention and in general accordance with the design
guidelines, a degree of flexibility is given to designers in the preparation of
development proposals.

No precise formula exists for ensuring the skilful and innovative design of buildings.
However, the provisions of this design guide require that some clear urban design
principles are observed. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that the
provisions of this design guide have been acknowledged and interpreted and the
objectives satisfied.

Wellington City District Plan Page 3

3.0 General Design Guidelines

Analysis
A general public quality underlying the design of buildings is that of legibility. This
refers to the degree to which the appearance of a building assists an observer to
develop an understanding of the nature and location of various activities located
within it and of the general architectural intention or concept that determines the
overall design of the building.

In addition it must be recognised that while an individual building may have its own
distinct identity within the city, it is also part of the collective environment that has
built up over time and contains various identifiable patterns. The qualities of
continuity and recognition of the definable characteristics of physical context should
be acknowledged in the design of any individual building within the city.
Knowledge and understanding of context will lead to informed design decisions,
whether those decisions are to complement or contrast with that context.

Finally the visual qualities of a building should be considered in whole as well as in

part. The design of new building should not simply result from a collage of the
various specific design guidelines that make up this guide. Each building should
have its own inherent architectural integrity and a considered relationship to its place
within the local street environment and the city in general.

Objectives
O1 To achieve a stadium and associated buildings that have a visual
presence, architectural expression and quality that is consistent with
their public significance.

O2 To make a considered, positive and enriching contribution to the visual

and experiential quality of the central city.

Guidelines
The external design of the stadium should take account of the following general
criteria:

G1 Special purpose sports stadia, events or exhibition buildings and their

associated and ancillary structures should be based on a coherent
architectural concept. They should have a dynamic quality that suitably
expresses their significance as important public gathering places and
local or citywide landmarks, and their common role as the public face of
Wellington to the wider world through mass media transmission of the
events within them.

G2 New development should not be seen as occurring in isolation. Its

design should recognise the place that it occupies within both the local
streetscape and the overall cityscape. This is not a requirement to mirror
established patterns or design types but rather the impetus to recognise
the relationship that development will have with its physical context and
its role within the city. Factors to consider might include but are not
limited to:

Wellington City District Plan Page 4

 • the structure and spatial definition of the present and potential future
street and public space system
• the role of a stadium in visually marking an important corner on a
major arterial route into and from the central city
• the unique nature of the stadium building type
• the city wide public significance of a stadium
• the physical character of existing buildings and structures in the
adjacent area.
G3 While the architectural composition of any stadium building will have
integrity in its own right, it will also integrate the other design criteria of
this guide.

G4 Significant internal spaces within buildings should be expressed in the

external appearance of the facade except where it can be clearly
demonstrated that this is inconsistent with an otherwise acceptable
overall aesthetic concept.

Wellington City District Plan Page 5

4.0 Guidelines for Design Contexts

Analysis
The criteria that follow address the design of all development on the stadium site, its
visual impact and effect at various heights on the character and quality of existing
and new public spaces formed, and on the city as a whole.

Design Contexts
The requirements of the street context as set out in this guide will apply up to a
height of 27m.

There is a special visual relationship between the space of a street and the buildings
that edge it. The building frontages affect the usability and quality of public space,
and should be designed to support the public environment. The design of street
facades will be required to recognise the speed of travel and close proximity of the
street level observer. There is also a special collective relationship between
buildings at street level, where they are seen in close physical association with one
another.

A series of further design criteria described in the neighbourhood and skyline

context, will apply to all parts of the stadium that are prominent in views from the
wider neighbourhood and on the skyline of the city.

This second design context acknowledges a visual relationship beyond the

immediate range of the street, and considers views from the interiors of nearby
buildings. It also acknowledges views from other parts of the central area, the
surrounding hillside suburbs and the main rail, road and sea approaches to the city.

The stadium site is in a part of the central city characterised by generally low and
medium-rise buildings. The stadium building type however, requires ancillary
elements such as lighting towers which may rise significantly above the 27m height
limit of the adjoining areas. This is visually appropriate given the public status and
significance of such a building, its location in the city foreground and at the
harbours edge, its necessary role in defining an important corner, and its potential
contribution as a landmark visual event on an important entrance route to the city.

Potential stadium roof structural elements, a roof perhaps increasing in height

towards the stadium centre and covering all or part of the stadium, and potential
lighting and video towers may all be expressed on the skyline. A stadium
development will be visually prominent, and the amphitheatre will have a presence
influencing the overall form of the city and its collective image.

Guidelines for Street Context

Objectives
O1 To visually relate to the context of existing street frontages.

O2 To respond to the perceptual needs of people walking at ground level on

immediately adjacent streets.

Wellington City District Plan Page 6

O3 To promote visual interest, avoiding monotonous, bland and excessively
repetitive building frontages at the street edge.

O4 To positively define and support pedestrian use of existing or new public

open spaces including streets.

O5 To avoid the visual domination of street edges by large areas of car

parking.

Guidelines
The street context applies to all stadium buildings from ground to a height of 27m
above ground level.

G1 Facades built to the street edge should complement the existing

appearance of a collective street frontage where this frontage has:
• well established patterns of related or consistent building proportions
• a collection of typical or repeated architectural details or window
patterns
• a consistent massing of frontage heights and widths.

G2 A stadium, being a unique and distinctive building type will be

necessarily differentiated from its surroundings. Its frontage design
should have a considered relationship to the major compositional
elements and imagery of its immediate street context.
This relationship may be complement, or alternatively contrast where
development of landmark potential is important.

G3 Where there is little or no established building pattern or scale in an

existing street, buildings should introduce sound design precedents with
careful consideration of the observable scale and dimensions of context,
creating visual interest at street level and positively defining and shaping
streets and public spaces.

G4 Buildings should be articulated to give viewers at street level visual

clues as to their scale, relative size and dimensions.

G5 The large, simple form buildings likely as part of stadium development

require consideration of detail, texture, contrast and the effects of light
and shadow on their surfaces to promote visual interest and diversity.
• Buildings should use projecting or recessed surfaces or elements to
set up clear three-dimensional modelling that will give shape and
depth to the building facade.
• Buildings may use surface finishes, colours or patterns to achieve
contrast.
• Discrete architectural or structural elements may be articulated to set
up a contrast between foreground and background elements of the
design.
• Articulation might include the ordering of various architectural
elements of a building frontage into hierarchies of relative importance
in the facade and the organisation of frontage elements into overall
vertical and/or horizontal compositions.

Wellington City District Plan Page 7

G6 Signage including advertising should be used in a way that develops
visual interest on the stadium facades. It may be extensive, large in scale
and capable of being read from other parts of the city. Signage may be
included on the horizontal plane of the roof. It should always be
designed as an integral part of the building and not applied in an adhoc
manner.

G7 In recognition of its size and unique plan form, the stadium will not be
required to be consistently built to the street edge. Its edges must
nevertheless positively define public open space, particularly at the bend
in the Quays and along the Aotea and Waterloo Quay frontages.

G8 Those parts of buildings fronting public spaces such as pedestrian

accessways and streets should:
• present a positive front, including an entrance or entrances to the
space
• define a clear edge to the space
• provide, where possible, ground floor activities that support the
public use of the space
• introduce a layered transition between the private interiors of the
building and the public space it edges.

G9 Large areas of open parking should be located away from the street edge
wherever this is possible. If this is not reasonably practicable then
parking at street edges should be suitably screened with trees or other
hard or soft landscape elements of a scale and visual quality enhance the
appearance of the street edges as seen from the important streets leading
into the city. Such landscape elements should complement and enhance
important views of the stadium from adjoining streets and public spaces
rather than obscure these views.

Guidelines for Neighbourhood

and Skyline Context
The neighbourhood and skyline context applies to all parts of the stadium
development that have a visual presence in the wider neighbourhood and on the
skyline.

Objectives
O1 To develop the landmark quality of the stadium as an important public
building.

O2 To promote the efficient use and development of natural and physical

resources in Residential Areas.

O3 To promote visual interest with recognition of viewing distance and

duration.

Wellington City District Plan Page 8

Guidelines
G1 A stadium should introduce sound design precedents in this area where
the established pattern is weak and there are few reference points. To
achieve this the building should:
• express visual clues as to its special nature and function as seen from
vantage points around the central city and from approaches to the city
• provide a strong, distinctive and appropriately sculptural skyline form
with the use of devices such as variation in the composition or
massing of major elements, or provision of an expressive roof form
or structure and the considered design and visual integration of
structural and other secondary visual elements that rise above its
main roof.

G2 The stadium should enhance the quality of experience of entrance to the

city by being located at and emphasising the bend at the junction of
Aotea and Waterloo Quays. It should establish a strong and dynamic
visual presence and by contrasting height, form and siting, be visible
from along Aotea and Waterloo Quays.

G3 The lighting design of the stadium should be designed to enhance its

landmark status at night.

G4 Within the skyline context, it becomes important that the building's

silhouette reads strongly against a background of sky or the rest of the
city. Attention should be paid to the design strategies that will achieve a
distinctive and interesting profile in order to make a positive
contribution to the skyline of the city. Views from the air and on and
across the harbour should be considered.

G5 The building should promote visual interest and diversity when viewed
from a distance through the use of techniques such as large scale
contrast between materials and elements, pattern and elevational
modelling. These measures should recognise that the greater viewing
distance in the neighbourhood and skyline context demands large scale
articulation. They also offer the potential for greater abstraction or
design simplicity of detail but only where this detail is not likely to be
viewed at close range.

Wellington City District Plan Page 9

5.0 Guidelines for Building Tops

Analysis
The top of a stadium would be highly visible because of its elevation and large plan
dimensions. It will make an appreciable contribution to the overall urban form of the city.

The roofs of all large floor plate buildings create significant visual impacts
regardless of their height, especially when these are viewed from elevated sites
around the city. In this respect, low rise buildings with extensive plan dimensions -
such as a stadium - can produce more significant consequences than tall buildings
which have small footprints.

The substantial horizontal bulk that is part of the main body of a typical stadium is
likely to rise above the tops of adjacent buildings. Structural elements and services
such as lighting and video replay screens may potentially extend significantly
further. The roof surfaces and planes, parapet edge and associated structures will
substantially influence the overall appearance of the stadium. Lighting will
determine the image of the building at night and potentially enhance its status as a
regional landmark.

Not only will the top of the stadium be large and visible from other parts of the city
including from important approaches to the city by land, sea and air, it will also be a
significant visual element in the foreground to the harbour when viewed from
hillside suburbs and multi-storey development to the west and north.

Objectives
O1 To make a positive contribution to the skyline and roofscape of the city.

O2 To recognise and enhance the landmark status of a stadium roof or roof

edge and associated elements.

Guidelines
The composition and appearance of building tops will vary but the following design
criteria will consistently apply:

G1 The architectural treatment of the stadium roof and should be a carefully

considered and integral part of the overall form and composition.

G2 Although the roof surfaces and edge profiles of buildings other than the
stadium amphitheatre will have lesser visual impact on the overall form
and distant views of the central city, their design and composition is still
important and needs to be considered as part of their overall design.
Emphasis should be placed on their design and appearance as viewed
from the entrance routes to the city.

G3 Building tops should be articulated with modelling, contrasting surface

treatments or other architectural devices to as appropriate, contribute to
an intricate or visually dynamic roofscape, and to avoid areas that are
over-large and clearly and inappropriately “out of scale”.

G4 Stadium development lighting should be designed to make a positive

contribution to the night time appearance or “nightscape” of the city.

Wellington City District Plan Page 10

6.0 Guidelines for Building Bulk

Analysis
The stadium site in an area characterised by large warehouse type buildings. The
horizontal scale of many of these buildings is not far removed from that of a
regional stadium. A stadium is likely to be higher than most buildings in its
immediate context, but not necessarily higher than many of the movable structures
associated with the adjacent wharf.

In any event, the scale and in particular, the special plan form will differentiate a
stadium from its neighbours. This differentiation will be accentuated by the stadium
being most probably a discrete object set in a field of open space.

A stadium possesses a special function and desirable landmark status within the city.
Despite this, a stadium building is liable to be of such a size that modification of the
effect of bulk may be required to give an appropriate sense of scale and visual
complexity. This is particularly important in the local street context. The distant
view should also be considered and in this case, any effects of excessive bulk
ameliorated with manipulation of large scale form elements.

The stadium will be monumental in scale and will, and should, be visible from afar.
In one sense it is appropriate that a monumental building expresses its true size. At
the level of the street, some kind of dimensional relationship with more ordinary
structures nearby (and even with human stature) is also called for. Measures to
attenuate the visual effect of bulk at various levels of detail need only be applied if
the stadium's sheer unrelieved visual mass is likely to unduly dominate adjacent
public spaces or appear excessively intrusive within the wider context of the city.

Buildings other than the stadium amphitheatre will, by virtue of their lesser size, be
inherently less visually bulky. However their design must also be considered to
avoid any adverse effects on surrounding areas of unrelieved dominating visual
bulk.

Objective
O1 To prevent excessive visual dominance of the local street context
through unrelieved building bulk while recognising the unique landmark
status of a regional sports stadium.

Guidelines
Where a building or part of a building is out of scale, and is liable to overwhelm or
excessively visually dominate the adjoining public environment, some or all of the
following design techniques may be used to modify the visual impacts of bulk.

G1 Use surface finishes, colours or patterns to set up a contrast between

foreground and background elements of the building facade.

G2 Model the facade to introduce visual relief, with the scale of the
modelled elements relating to the distances from which the relevant
parts of the building are customarily viewed.

Wellington City District Plan Page 11

G3 Where the overall bulk of a proposed development would undermine an
established and valued contextual scale, relate scale or size defining
elements to the relevant dimensions in the existing context.

G4 Introduce setbacks, steps or other variations in the overall form of the

building with the expression of structure, floor levels, circulation,
significant spaces or blocks of accommodation.

Wellington City District Plan Page 12

7.0 Guidelines for Access and
Connection

Analysis
A sports stadium generates an occasional very high demand for pedestrian access
both from the city and various public transport connections. The existing footpath
link along Waterloo Quay is neither sufficiently wide nor of a quality which invites
pedestrian use.

This route in particular, notwithstanding the potential development of pedestrian

access through the precinct adjoining the stadium site, will be visually, even if not
actually, the main link with the central city.

In addition to provision of adequate capacity, development of pedestrian routes

requires consideration of the design of the adjacent edges of buildings and the
spaces that front them to ensure that they are both amenable to pedestrian use and
visually prominent. In particular, Waterloo Quay demands visual recognition of its
status as a major entrance route into the city.

While improved public access is necessary along the street edge, the scale of the
stadium activity and potential numbers of users will necessitate other access routes.
Potential routes to parking in the port area, high level connection direct to the
Railway Station and potential access over the railway lines to Thorndon Quay will
ameliorate crowding at peak loading times. The maximisation of connection to other
areas offers the opportunity to improve accessibility to previously remote parts of
the central city and should be encouraged for this reason also.

The nature of future development adjacent to the stadium site is uncertain. It will
however be of benefit to the stadium, to adjoining areas, and to the city as a whole,
if development of the stadium anticipates the development of an adjoining public
space structure. Stadium development should not preclude future pedestrian and
vehicle links to this in appropriate locations.

The effectiveness of public access routes is dependent not only on their capacity and
the connections that they offer, but also on the quality of the spaces that they create.

Design should recognise not only issues such as safety (from crime as well as
physical accident) and shelter but also the speed at which pedestrians experience
such an environment. Environments experienced at relatively low speeds demand
visual intricacy or small scale diversity and activity in the buildings at street edges if
monotony is to be avoided. In contrast, motorists travelling past at much higher
speeds perceive much less of the detail and will respond to the larger scale patterns
apparent in the streetscape.

Objectives
O1 To provide good pedestrian access between the stadium and other parts
of the central city including sources of public transport.

O2 To create public space and accessways that actively support rather than
simply allow access for people on foot.

O3 To provide improved public pedestrian access parallel to or along the

edge of Waterloo Quay.

Wellington City District Plan Page 13

O4 To allow for connection to and integration into any future public space
structures in adjacent areas.

Guidelines
G1 Develop a number of public routes, designed as part of a wider public
space structure to deal effectively with expected peak pedestrian loads.

G2 Design access routes to the stadium to be integrated into the city’s

public space structure and freely and obviously available for continuous
public use.

G3 Spatially define and accentuate the edge of Waterloo Quay in order to

strengthen the connection between the central city and the stadium.
Design measures may include the considered location of building
frontages or the use of rows of large scale planting to visually accentuate
this edge and the physical and visual connection.

G4 Provide a wide public footpath along the edge of Waterloo Quay and
design with consideration of improving shelter, reducing dominance of
this edge by traffic and improving the visual quality and experience of
using this route on foot.

G5 Provide pedestrian amenities, shelter and street furniture along the edges
of streets and accessways to facilitate pleasant and convenient use by
pedestrians.

G6 Wherever possible ensure building fronts with entrances, windows and

activity define the edges of accessways and public spaces. Large blank
walls and uninhabited spaces that do not contribute vitality or interest to
the edges of spaces should be avoided.

G7 Consider personal safety issues when designing public carparking

buildings, and elevated pedestrian accessways. Refer to the Guidelines
for Design Against Crime.

G8 Allow for potential connection to a public space structure within the

adjoining Northern Gateway Precinct. In doing so, design to allow both
vehicle and pedestrian connection wherever this is appropriate.

Wellington City District Plan Page 14

 School Construction
News Construction
Report, 2007 Regional
Breakdown

Click here to enlarge

Source: School
Construction News
Infometrics Department
 FEATURE
Hull Stadium
Jon Carr, Associate at Anthony Hunt Associates
Hull City Council has built a multi-purpose stadium with a steel roof
Night photo from roof of Hull Royal infirmary
IN the late 1990s, Kingston-upon-Hull City Council
floated Kingston Communications, the telephone
company which gave Hull its distinctive cream
coloured telephone boxes, on the stock exchange.
It used part of the proceeds from this sale to fund
an iconic stadium and community sports facility,
which would act as a flagship regeneration project
for the city.
On a freezing cold night in
December 2002, Hull City FC
played a friendly football
match against Sunderland
AFC in front of approximately
25,000 spectators, and the
dream had become a reality.
The stadium is now home to
both Hull City FC (football) and
Hull FC (rugby league) as well
a community ‘Learning Zone’,
Main entrance to sports hall
a pioneering partnership set
up by Hull City Council and
Hull College. The complex also includes a 12-court
sports hall, two all weather hockey pitches, a
BMX/skateboard area and an aviary. The building
has won several awards.
SITE AND INFRASTRUCTURE
The stadium is in West Park, a 78-acre formal
Victorian park located a short walk away from Hull
city centre. However, the need to respect existing
features within the park (including a significant
number of mature trees) and the presence of
several railway lines at part of the site boundary
resulted in a surprisingly tight area within which
the stadium had to be located.
20 NSC January - February 2004
Significant civil engineering works were also
required, including a major sewer diversion and
an elevated walkway, which spans over a number
of railway lines and brings pedestrians from the
city centre.
ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT
The architectural concept encompasses a number
of features that are unique to UK stadium design,
most notably the asymmetric bowl form that
results from having single tier stands to the north,
south and east sides and a two tier main stand to
the west.
The bowl effect is enhanced by the roof line,
which gently rises from its lowest point at the
centre line of the single tier east stand to its apex
at the centre line of the two tier West stand
opposite, as well as by infilling the four corners.
The roof-mounted wishbone floodlights at the
south-east and north-east corners of the stadium
also serve to give the stadium its identity, as well
as preventing the west stand ‘A-frame’ roof
structure from dominating the roofscape.
Other unique features include locating the main
public concourse (which has been described as
‘cathedral like’) at first floor level, thereby freeing
up commercially valuable space at ground floor
level. Further space has been freed up by locating
the four stair towers that serve the upper floors of
the west stand outside the footprint of the
stadium. This maximises the space available for
public amenities and catering facilities, as well as
enabling fans to walk fully around the stadium at
events where segregation is not necessary, such
as pop concerts.
Arial veiw taken soon after completion
STRUCTURAL DESIGN
From a structural point of view, the asymmetric
bowl form of the stadium, with part single tier,
part two tier, effectively results in ‘two stadia in
one’. The junction between the single tier north,
south and east stands and the two tier west stand
is solved by gradually raising the roof level, as
opposed to the normal solution of having a
sudden vertical step in the roof line. This results in
each half of the stadium being made of 36 frames,
each one of which is different. In total,
some 3,500 tons of steel was used in the
construction of the stadium. Given the
coastal nature of the site, the steelwork
paint system had to take into account
the corrosive nature of airborne salts.
Erection of tubular steel A frames to westSETTING OUT
stand roof
The orientation of the stadium was
partly determined by the need to
minimise the wind uplift forces to the large
overhang of the west stand roof. Consequently,
the prevailing winds from the south west act on
the rear elevation of the west stand.
The principal structural elements are all set out
to a complex arrangement of plan curves, with
different radii and setting-out points defining each
element. This arrangement ensures good views
from all seats, with no spectators having to stand
in order to view the action in the corners (which is
where much of the play occurs in a rugby match).
To assist construction, easting and northing
coordinates were calculated for all critical
elements, some of which were expressed as
‘global positioning system’ (GPS) co-ordinates.
NORTH, SOUTH AND EAST STANDS
The superstructure to the north, south and east
stands is relatively straightforward. Steel frames at
7.5m centres support a single tier of precast
concrete terracing that is accessed, via precast
concrete vomitories, from the suspended
composite slab and beam structure at lower
concourse level. Overall stability is provided by a
combination of frame action and bracing by the
terracing raker beams. The 1.35m deep cellular
roof beams cantilever up to 29m and are
supported by two columns, one at the rear of the
terracing and one along the external perimeter.
Polycarbonate sheeting to the tips of the
cantilevers maximises sunlight to the pitch edges
and corners.
WEST STAND SUPERSTRUCTURE
The superstructure to the west stand is similar in
principle to that of the other stands, although it
does have two tiers of terracing and four levels of
suspended floor. In addition to frame action and
bracing by the terracing raker beams (with
additional vertical and plan bracing as required),
overall stability is also provided by the stiffness of
the 1.2m diameter concrete encased perimeter
columns.
WEST STAND ROOF
The west stand roof is probably the most
interesting aspect of the stadium from a structural
point of view. Due to its significant overhang and
the presence of the upper tier, the cantilever
solution used for the other stands was not
appropriate here. Consequently, a stayed rafter
NSC January - February 2004 21
 FEATURE
solution was adopted, using relatively slender
406mm diameter CHS stays to support box section
rafters which are fabricated out of steel plate, and
range from 1350mm deep at their supports, down
to 600mm at the tip.
The CHS stays are up to 40m long, and rise
gently in pairs up to the rear of the roof, where
they meet six CHS section ‘A-frames’ which
transfer the significant vertical and overturning
forces down the stand, via terracing raker beams
and diagonal bracing hidden within partition walls
between hospitality boxes. To overcome potential
problems associated with self-weight deflection
and bending moments, the CHS stays were
cranked at third points so that the deflected form
approximates to a straight line.
For reasons of transportation and buildability, the
tubular A-frames were fabricated at the rear of the
west stand and lifted into place as complete
frames. This resulted in lifts of up to 110 tons that
lasted eight hours in some cases. In order to
minimise out of balance forces, the ‘A-frames’
were erected from the 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 intermediate and the two
outer ‘A-frames’, after which the roof decking
could be laid. The west side of the pitch is lit from
a dedicated lighting gantry slung off the underside
of the west stand roof. Again, polycarbonate
sheets at the front of the west stand roof maximise
sunlight to the pitch.
DYNAMIC BEHAVIOUR
In addition to football and rugby, the stadium will
be used for pop concerts. Hence, the dynamic
performance of the structure was designed to
comply with the recommendations of the newly
published Interim Guidance report, produced by
the IStructE/DTLR/DCMS working group. This
essentially requires that empty stands have a
lowest vertical natural frequency of at least 6Hz,
provided that the structure can resist a horizontal
load equal to 7.5% of the vertical imposed load, in
addition to the wind loads specified in Part 2 of BS
6399. This should ensure that significant resonant
excitation at the second harmonic frequency of
crowd movement is avoided. A sophisticated 3-D
computer model was initially created to determine
the dynamic response of the structure, the results
of which were subsequently evaluated against
physical tests carried out on the as-built structure
by Sheffield University’s Vibration Engineering
Research Section. The practical implications of
designing for pop concerts are essentially stiffer
precast terracing units, stiffer steel terrace raker
beams, and additional bracing (in both horizontal
and vertical planes).
22 NSC January - February 2004
CREDITS
Architect (overall concept) Arup Associates (detail design) The Miller Partnership
Structural Engineer Anthony Hunt Associates Steelwork Contractors Watson Steel & Wescol
Steel tonnage 3,500 tonnes
THERMAL MOVEMENT
The bowl arrangement of the stadium is such that
the north, south, east and west stands are
prevented from expanding towards (and
contracting away from) the corner areas.
Consequently, the superstructure is jointed using
pairs of expansion joints at all four corners of the
stadium.
PROGRAMME AND BUDGET
The main contractor was appointed in September
2001, when the detailed design began. The site
works started one month later in October 2001,
and the opening match was played just 14 months
later in December 2002. The building was
delivered both on time and within the client’s
budget. The extremely tight programme was only
achievable by establishing a close working
relationship with the steelwork contractors at an
early stage in the detailed design process. Indeed,
the steelwork contractors made an invaluable
contribution in terms of assisting with the
connection design and advising on buildability.
ONE YEAR ON
Since the stadium opened almost a year ago, Hull
City FC and Hull FC have both seen significant
increases in their attendance figures. Further, the
stadium has been ‘sold out’ for a number of
events including an England U21 friendly, an Elton
John concert, and a rugby league test match
between Great Britain and Australia. Indeed, the
stadium has captured the imagination of the
people of Hull as well as visitors to the city, many
of whom believe the ‘spectator experience’ at the
Kingston Communication Stadium is second
to none.
Opening night - view from south-west corner
 Hillsboro Stadium
Hillsboro, Oregon
T he success of the
Hillsboro Stadium project
was based on the design team’s
ability to be creative in its
response to the owner’s (The
Hillsboro Parks and Recreation
Department) and architect’s
(GBD Architects) requirements.
The owner, due to cost over-
runs and a long construction
schedule, abandoned a previous
design by another team. KPFF,
along with the other team mem-
bers, came up with a design that
met both the budget for the pro-
ject and the design and construc-
tion schedule required by the
owner. The Hillsboro Parks and
Recreation Department received
its funding for the stadium from a
combination of private and public
donations and a recently
approved bond measure. When
the overall 10-month schedule
was broken down into tasks,
KPFF was left with 30 days to
complete the design and issue bid
documents for the stadium, a sig-
nificant engineering achievement.
KPFF provided structural engi-
neering design and construction
services for the Hillsboro Stadium
in Hillsboro, OR. The project
includes a 4,000-seat bleacher
stadium with a 25,000-sq. ft. roof,
suspended from four steel towers
located along the backside of the
stadium. The roof partially cov-
ers the bleachers and three
enclosed private press boxes that

Modern Steel Construction / March 2000

 Jurors’ Comments:
Designed and built in 10
months, this stadium is a
perfect blend of simple
but elegant design, econ-
omy and speed through
pre-fabrication. The
canopied roof structure
stands out like a jewel.
overlook the multipurpose
Astroturf field, which supports
baseball, football, and soccer. Six
additional grass softball and base-
ball fields surround the stadium.
The seating was constructed
using 25’ long by 3’ 9” wide pre-
cast concrete planks supported by
structural steel beams and
columns. Below the bleachers
are restrooms, concession booths,
team locker rooms, and ground
maintenance and storage facili-
ties. The project was designed and
built for the City of Hillsboro
Parks and Recreation Department
for use by local high schools,
youth, and adult sports organiza-
tions. Completed in August of
1999, the construction cost for
the stadium was $7,400,000. The
stadium included 400 tons of
structural steel.
In order to meet the owner’s
demanding cost and budget con-
straints, the design team created a
simple, structurally sound, and
aesthetically pleasing design using
prefabricated roof sections that
could be installed while the sup-
porting structure was built.

Concurrent Construction
The key to the project’s success
was that different sections of the
stadium could be designed, built,
and installed concurrently. The

engineers designed a canopied-
roof system that was completely
independent of the stadium seat-
ing section. While the stadium
seating area was being construct-
ed, the roof was also being con-
structed in an adjacent field.
Once the seating area was com-
plete, the roof system was lifted
into place and attached to 80 sus-
pension rods and 16 uplift rods
suspended from four steel towers.
The four steel roof towers were
also prefabricated in two sections
and lifted into place. The lower
sections of the towers were fabri-
cated and placed prior to con-
struction of the seating area.
While the seating area was being
installed, the upper roof tower
sections were being constructed
and were lifted into place prior to
completion of the roof panels.
The roof panels were constructed
in three 53’ by 100’ sections,
which were set between the tow-
ers, and two 25’ by 100’ sections,
which were placed at the ends of
the roof. Two independent cranes
lifted the roof panels. It took
approximately eight hours to lift
and secure each panel. The fram-
ing in the wedge-shaped skylights
was installed after the main roof
panels were installed.
The suspension rods, which
splay out from the top of the tow-
ers down to the roof structure,
carry all of the gravity load of the
roof system. The roof is offset
from the roof towers, which cre-
ates an inherent eccentricity. The
support towers must withstand
constant overturning forces
caused by the structures’ eccen-
tricity, wind, and seismic loads.
Additionally, the support towers
were designed to accommodate
the unbalanced loads that
occurred during construction
when an adjacent roof panel had
not yet been lifted into place. This
eliminated the need for shoring
and provided the steel erector
with a wide range of erection
sequences.
The seating raker beams attach
to the roof towers, approximately
43’ above the field at the press
box floor, and provide stability to
the roof towers. The steel raker
beams act as a compression strut
to transfer the loads down to the
concourse level, which is 15’
above the field level. The con-
course level is rigidly anchored to
a deep grade beam at the back of
the stadium.
The owner was pleased with
the aesthetic quality of the system
and the design team’s ability to
create a structural system that
could be designed and construct-
ed within the required 10-month
period while remaining within
the owner’s budget. The design
team’s hard work and innovative
use of structural steel made this
project a success for everyone
involved, including the owner
and the members of the commu-
nity, who will have full use of the
facility.
Modern Steel Construction / March 2000
Hillsboro Stadium,
Hillsboro, OR
Owner: The Hillsboro Parks
and Recreation Department
Architect: GBD Architects,
Portland, OR
Structural Engineer: KPFF,
Portland, OR
Fabricator: Fought & Co.,
Tigard, OR (AISC member)
Detailer: Baresel Corp. (AISC
& NISD members)
General Contractor:
Hoffman Construction Co.,
Portland
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