SAS International chosen for new Arsenal Stadium

Metal ceiling systems and architectural metalwork from SAS International chosen for new Arsenal Stadium

Premiership football club Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium is a landmark building in its north London location, and forms part of a larger urban regeneration project in the area.

With seating for 60,000, the recently completed football stadium is England's third largest facility.

SAS International was delighted to have been chosen to provide metal ceiling solutions for the project, which was designed by architects HOK Sport.

The concealed grid (System 150) suspended metal ceiling solutions from SAS International has been used in the main hospitality circulation areas, above retail outlets, as well as above the management suites, offices, press workrooms, and changing rooms.

SAS International's linear grid ceiling system, System 330 was used in all hospitality bars and restaurants and private boxes, with the SAS Tubeline ceiling system used in the general admission toilet facilities.

Tubeline is an aluminium, linear tube system ideal for creating feature ceilings and provides a clean, modern look.

In addition, SAS created bespoke architectural metalwork including a large sloping metal bulkhead incorporating flat screen TV's and concession signage.

These run at high level continuously around the concourse areas, with matching metal casings for the waste bin units, all in Arsenal's distinctive team colour red.

Durability as well as aesthetic appeal were both important considerations.

SAS metal ceilings have an expected lifespan in excess of 25 years.

They do not do not require re-decoration and are incredibly easy to clean, while the polyester powder coating ensures durability as it is not susceptible to paint chipping, accidental damage, and has a high level of scratch resistance.

"We used System 330 to create strips of service access within the large plasterboard ceilings in the restaurants and collected together all the ceiling mounted services on these strips to maximise the amount of uninterrupted plasterboard ceiling we would be left with".

"We chose Tubeline in the GA toilets as it provided us with a fully demountable ceiling system that dealt well with the radial shape of the rooms".

"The 'bespoke' metal bulkhead was achieved by utilising components from within the SAS product range this proved cost effective, quick to install and looked great," said HOK Sport Architect Charles Cooke.

The state-of-the-art stadium is an eye-catching oval structure.

Its downward sloping roof canopies keep 'the atmosphere in the ground'.

Key features include an undulating seating bowl and large external roof trusses, with the two primary trusses spanning a full 204m lengthwise across the all-important pitch.

HOK Sport also incorporated a number of environmentally sustainable aspects in the design such as introducing a passive and mixed mode ventilation system, and maximising the opportunities for daylight within the building, as well as avoiding products containing PVC and only using FSC accredited timber sources.

The overall construction was carried out under a design-and-build contract by Sir Robert McAlpine, with MPG Contracts as the ceiling installer.

The stadium opened as planned in July 2006 in time for the start of the 2006-07 football season.

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