NSC 17
May 20
which was developed to complement
the existing media centre, but also vastly
improve circulation at ground level.
“The rapid build has only been possible
through a close relationship with Severfield’s
design team. All approvals have been
through the ‘live’ model and in collaboration
with the pre-cast terracing contractor.”
Working on behalf of main contractor
ISG, Severfield is responsible for the project’s
steelwork connection design, detailing,
fabrication, supply and erection. The
company is also installing metal decking,
steel stairs and pre-cast components such as
the terrace units and vomitory walls.
Some of the largest elements in each
of the two stands are the main supporting
columns. These are typically 1,400mm ×
500mm box sections, with 100mm-thick
base plates fixed with Macalloy bar anchor
assemblies. There are nine of these columns
in the Compton stand and seven in the
Edrich stand.
Positioned on grid line B, which is in
the middle of each stand, the columns sit
towards the back of the lower tier, support
the 7m-wide cantilevering seating area of
the second tier, and then also support the
underside of the uppermost seating level.
Explaining the main challenges of
the steelwork programme, Severfield
Project Manager Dominic Charlton says:
“The logistics of the site are particularly
challenging as there is only a single access
point for vehicles and it involves driving
through areas that are open to the public
as the Indoor Cricket Centre needs to
remain in use throughout the construction
works. To complicate matters, the single
access point needs to feed four work-fronts
for both steelwork and precast concrete
How the new stands will
fit into the overall design
of the cricket ground.
deliveries.”
To construct the stands Severfield
primarily used four mobile cranes working
concurrently – allowing both stands to be
constructed at the same time.
There were two in-front of the stands
(pitch side), one 300t-capacity unit and
a 250t-capacity crane, and a couple of
100t-capacity cranes positioned to the rear
of the structures.
“To erect the heavy upper tier rakers –
the heaviest being 22t and 20m long – we
had to bring in an additional 300t-capacity
crane,” adds Mr Charlton. “While, during
March we also had a fifth crane on-site – a
self-erecting tower crane – installing the
steel stairs.”
Severfield’s steelwork package involved
some complex fabrication, especially for the
plate girder rakers, which provide support to
the precast concrete terraces.
“As part of the fabrication method
each raker component was split into three
individual sub-assemblies. This made
turning, handling and machining in the
factory a lot easier than if the rakers were
fabricated as a single assembly,” explains Mr
Charlton.
“The three sub-assemblies were then
dimensionally checked and welded together
to form the single assembly prior to painting
and loading-out for delivery to site.”
Work on the Compton and Edrich stands
is due to complete in April 2021.
Sport
MCC masterplan
The redevelopment of the Compton and Edrich
Stands is the second phase of the MCC masterplan,
following last year’s opening of the £25M Warner
Stand.
Once they are completed in 2021, work will commence
on redeveloping the East Gate Building (between 2021-25)
before the Nursery Ground is redesigned (2025-27).
The South Western Project, involving the rebuilding
of the Tavern and Allen Stands, as well as renovation of
the Thomas Lord Suite, is scheduled to take place from
2027-2030 before the masterplan is completed with the
redevelopment of the North Gate Building from 2031-32.
MCC is the world’s most active cricket club, the owner
of Lord’s Ground and the guardian of the Laws and Spirit
of the game. Founded in 1787, it is recognised as the sole
authority on the game’s Laws and moved to its current
home on St John’s Wood Road in 1814.
“The steel frame gives
a clear legibility to the
gymnastics of the design.”
The new stands also
overlook the Nursery
Ground, which is
positioned adjacent to
the main Lord's pitch.
Typical rear view of the
stands
Severfield used
four cranes to erect
the majority of the
steelwork.
/Fabrication
/Construction#Steel_erection
/Construction#Installation_of_metal_decking
/Simple_connections#Column_bases
/Fabrication#Handling_and_transportation
/Construction#Mobile_cranes
/Construction#Tower_cranes
/Steel_construction_products#Plate_girders
/Welding
/Paint_coatings