The £21 million scheme which was completed on time and on budget provides 13,850 new seats, extensive hospitality lounges and a state-of-the-art press centre for Surrey County Cricket Club.
The new stand which is sponsored by OCS, is designed to bring spectators closer to the game. It has a magnificent sweeping roof and a unique 180m long ‘living screen’ 20m in height and covered in trailing plants which was designed to screen the rear elevation. The tapered crescent shape helps to amplify the crowd noise within the stadium under its dramatic lightweight roof.
The new construction consisted of the demolition of the existing temporary and permanent stands, hospitality facilities and other buildings/enclosures at the Vauxhall End of the ground. These were replaced with a modern steel framed stand over four levels and a main curved steel roof.
The stand is a steel framed structure with composite concrete floor decking and the terraces are pre-cast concrete units supported on steel rakers. The stadium roof was erected from steel tree columns supporting curved steel beams, with steel purlins, supporting a standing seam metal roof deck and polycarbonate roof covering.
The project was programmed into two distinct construction phases. Phase one consisted of: demolition of the existing stands, installing piles, concrete sub structure, erecting steelwork frame and erecting lower precast concrete seating decks. These works were completed on time to allow for a temporary handover for a limited season of international cricket matches during the summer of 2004.
Phase two consisted of completing the superstructure, M&E services, fitting out and external works.
Architects: HOK and The Miller Partnership
Project Manager: Drivers Jonas
Principle Contractor: Taylor Woodrow Construction
Completed: May 2005
Cost: £21million