Facade engineering for the Premier League football club’s iconic new stadium, which is inspired by the gothic architecture of Westminster Abbey.
Eckersley O’Callaghan is the facade engineer for Chelsea FC’s new landmark stadium, a £600m development inspired by the gothic architecture of Westminster Abbey. We are responsible for engineering the full envelope, including the roof, glazed facades and the iconic brick piers that surround the perimeter.
The development will see an increase of almost 50% capacity from 41,837 to 60,000 people. Architects Herzog & de Meuron’s design encloses the stadium with 264 sculpted brick piers, rising up and over spectators to support a circular steel compression ring 50 metres above the pitch.
The openings between the piers are generally glazed to control the internal climate and deal with onerous acoustic, thermal and security requirements. The brick piers are all unique in height, orientation and geometry, so a key task has been developing buildability proposals and preparing mock-ups with potential industry suppliers.
Other facade features include brass screens and doors, UHPC roofing elements, ceramic spandrel panels and bonded steel window profiles. Planning consent was granted in January 2017.
