Alexander Stadium, Birmingham – Redevelopment - Case Studies

Project: Alexander Stadium, Birmingham – Redevelopment

Requirement:

Birmingham Council recently awarded McLaughlin and Harvey the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium. This project would see the venue’s permanent capacity increase as well as the ability to temporarily increase numbers for major events all of which would add to the overall annual sales revenue.

As a business, we were delighted to once again collaborate with our valued Client, having been chosen due to our proven experience and inclusion within their high-performing supply chain as well as our verified Constructionline Gold accreditation.

Our objective was to help provide a solution for the resident pigeons who were nesting and roosting on the canopy support beams and other protected, high-level edges around the West and East Stands.

Solution:

A general housekeeping programme was carried out prior to us commencing the install works to ensure that any nesting debris, guano & associated materials were removed, and bagged up and that the area was clean and safe for our team to access.

After reviewing the installation area, it was decided that the best way to protect the West Stand Canopy and the Rear Walkway would be to install our 50mm Bird Netting to encase the canopy and support beams, providing a discreet solution. We adopted the same solution for the areas of the Lower-Level canopy of the West-Stand.

Both Netting Systems were supported using stainless steel fixings that were installed to the light cable tray and the main stand.

The West Stand Stadium’s Roof Gutters were an area that was suffering under heavy pigeon pressure with nesting debris from the resident pigeons being washed into the gutters, causing blockages. Once the gutters were clear and free, we were able to progress to the installation of our 50mm Bird Mesh which was installed using a hinge system, access hatches are an important consideration as they allow for inspection and maintenance works once the installation is complete.

Rows of Pigeon Spikes were installed on the East Stand’s Speaker System to deny the existing birds from comfortably perching and fouling onto the speaker system and seats below them, not an ideal H&S matter to deal with on event days.

Finally, we installed our 50mm x 50mm Pigeon Mesh to the sides of the stadium’s East Stand containment trays, again utilising our hinge system that has been designed to allow easy maintenance access to these protected areas.

Access Strategy:

Due to the nature of this project, our team used a combination of MEWPs and Rope Access to carry out the installation.

Having identified some of the risks and hazards whilst working on the roof’s gutters it was decided to implement a Fall Protection system. This would be used by our fully trained team who understood the risks involved and how to use the system safely.

Comments:

Senior Project Manager, Jonathan Taylor commented:

“We have over the last few years, successfully partnered with several stadium construction specialists, who are transforming and upgrading UK Stadiums, making significant improvements by modernising facilities and increasing overall capacity”

"These types of works enable the inclusion of a greater number of executive and hospitality areas as well as increased attendance numbers, providing long-term stadium investment and increased revenue”

Site Project Manager, Luke Howard commented:

"It was an absolute pleasure to look after and manage a Project of this size and value. The moving parts, site adaptions and coordination when working with other trades made our works very interesting, the experience gained was invaluable."

We have also had the chance to work on several other Stadiums, so if you are interested in reading our other related case studies, please follow the links below!