Local Expertise Underpins Comfort and Safety at New Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre

Bury based ventilation equipment manufacturers and contractors, Senior Hargreaves, and the Warrington office of building services contractors, Haden Young, have key roles in the new Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre.  Ductwork for ventilation, heating, cooling and fire control is being provided by Hargreaves under a contract from Haden Young who hold the overall brief for the electrical plumbing and environmental services.   The development will be a cornerstone of the City of Culture celebrations in 2008 and is part of a major regeneration initiative.  

The Liverpool development benefits from Hargreaves experience with similar world-class North West venues.  These include the International Conference Centre and MEN Arena in Manchester, Bolton’s Reebok Stadium and extensive works at Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium.    

In keeping with the prestigious location, next to the Grade 1 listed Albert Dock and the Three Graces (a World Heritage site), the city of Liverpool sought an outstanding architectural design.  International award winning architects Wilkinson Eyre have created a complex that combines a 9,500 seat multi-purpose arena for concerts and sports with a 1,350 seat auditorium and an exhibition space of 7000 square metres.  The two wings of the development are linked by a central galleria that provides access to all major facilities, a variety of hospitality and catering services and a through pedestrian route to the riverside.   

Flexibility for different events and levels of occupancy is a key element in the design.  Engineers faced several challenges in meeting the exacting environmental standards and demands for flexibility.  Cooling, heating and comfort ventilation requirements will vary considerably according to occupation and season.   Kitchens and catering concessions posed potential fire hazards and so exhaust ventilation from these uses Hargreaves tested HFD fire resistant ductwork.  In the event of fire this will contain products of combustion to prevent fire spread and permit their safe discharge to atmosphere.    

Large plant rooms are commonplace in such heavily serviced buildings.  This has been overcome by distributing these facilities to the flanks of the building, screening the four open roof decks from street level.  

Logistics and access also tested Hargreaves ingenuity.  The programme schedule has required close coordination between the Bury factory, fixing teams on-site and the transport team.  Equipment has been manufactured, delivered to site and installed within tight time frames.  The wide-span roof, up to 23 metres above the arena floor meant using high-level scaffolding and mechanical access for both men and material.  Skilled fitting teams then had to optimise the pathway for the ductwork through the complex roof truss matrix.

The Hargreaves contract is part of a wider brief held by Haden Young who are responsible for the electrical, mechanical and public health services fit-out and commissioning throughout the building.  Heating, cooling, ventilation, fire and other mechanical services design was by consultants Faber Maunsell and the principal contractor is Bovis Lend Lease.  

Completion is expected in 2007 in readiness for the 2008 celebrations.  
  

More Information
Phil Johnson, Senior Hargreaves, Tel. 0161 764 5082 Fax. 0161 762 2336
E-mail: pr@senior-hargreaves.co.uk Web: www.hargreaves-ductwork.co.uk
Senior Hargreaves, Lord Street, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0RG, UK

High/low resolution images are on the web at www.ainsmag.co.uk/ha166/4152ha1a.htm

May 31, 2007