Bristol tensile construction specialists Base Structures is helping create a unique walkway across the rooftop of London's 02 Arena which will give visitors spectacular views across the capital.
The 'Up at The O2 experience', due to open by June 21, features a tensile cable and fabric walkway over the venue’s roof.
The only one of its kind in the world, the attraction begins on the south side of the O2 where lead contractors ISG have constructed a staircase and glass lift to the fabric walkway, which starts from a platform 7.5m above the ground.
It then rises to reach a 12m diameter viewing platform at the arena's apex – at 53m above ground level, it will be higher than the tip of Nelson’s Column – before descending the north side of the O2 where visitors return to ground level.
The project, worth £1.2m to Base Structures, is one of the most-demanding it has worked on.
The firm, based on the St Vincent's trading estate, is responsible for the fabrication and construction of the cable tensioned fabric walkway and viewing platform.
Logistical challenges meant that it had to design a unique system to transport more than 30 tonnes of materials up to the apex of The O2 – which no crane could reach.
Base Structures head of projects Mark Smith said: “This has been a highly-demanding project – we’ve got extremely tight deadlines, the design is one of a kind and the construction has presented all sorts of logistical and technical challenges.
“But these kinds of projects are what we do best and we’re working with some great partners.”
The firm was launched in 2001 with just three staff members. Since then it has worked on some major and iconic projects including Heathrow Terminal 5, Manchester International Festival, the Eden Project and the Mound Stand at Lords Cricket Ground.
Today it has a multi-million pound turnover and 40 employees.
The O2 Arena walkway has been designed by Bath-based Buro Happold with London architects bblur.
Buro Happold, lead consultant on the project, worked on both the original Millennium Dome and its subsequent adaptation to become the O2 Arena.
02 Arena owner AEG's executive director for real estate Alistair Wood said: “This has been a highly-challenging project due to the unique nature of the structure and the immense time pressures.
“It’s times like these when you’re glad to be working with some of the most experienced contractors in this field. With completion around the corner, we’re really excited about the launch – it’s an attraction that promises ‘climbers’ an entirely unique and breathtaking experience on one of the world’s most iconic venues.”
Buro Happold’s Matthew Birchall, director for structures and the overall design team leader, added: “As the original consulting engineers and co-designers for The O2 Arena we were delighted to be invited to design this latest addition to the London skyline. The roof walk is a combination of architecture, engineering and extreme visitor experience, and represents the only installation of its kind anywhere in the world.”
Facts and figures
* The walkway is 350m in length – 170m on the up-side and 180m on the down-side. (The down-side is longer because it goes down to the ground whereas the up-side begins from a raised platform.)
* The walkway will be suspended 60m above the ground at its highest point.
* A total of 1,175 sq m of bespoke, embossed PVC-coated polyester fabric will be used for the walkway.
* More than 6,000 sq m of fabric will be used in total – including the walkway, under walkway mesh support and the full-length ‘wings’.
* More than 3.2km of cable will run through the edges of the fabric walkway.
* More than 7.6km of cable, weighing approximately 10 tonnes, will be used to suspend the walkway from the masts.
* 3,800 metal clamps will attach the fabric walkway to the supporting cables.
* Crossing the walkway will also be possible by wheelchair.
Photo: Base Structures Ltd
For Base Structures’ Up at The O2 blog giving details of its work on the 02 Arena walkway go to http://basestructureso2.tumblr.com/
