Forsyth Barr Stadium, New Zealand

Over 400 Tension Bars from Ancon have been installed on the Forsyth Barr stadium in New Zealand to brace the impressive overhead structural steelwork.

This spectacular stadium has pushed the boundaries of venue design. It is the first sports stadium, anywhere in the world, to feature a permanent roof over a natural playing surface.

The galvanised steel tension bars, some of which are 42mm in diameter and 15 metres in length, are installed in the iconic stadium roof and in the South and West stands.

The Ancon system includes bars with a special, high strength, rolled thread which was designed and tested to meet the specific dynamic conditions in the stadium roof, caused by wind loads.

The dimensions of this project are immense. The roof is formed from five arched steel trusses, each with a span of 105metres. At its maximum, it measures 47metres high which is equivalent to a 12 storey building. The main steel truss in the South Stand is 130metres long.

The tension bars were supplied to the structural steel contractor, Grayson Engineering, to meet a demanding site schedule.

The project, known as Otago Stadium during the construction phase, was started in June 2009 and completed in August 2011. Forsyth Barr, a share broking and investment firm, has secured the naming rights to the stadium for the next 10 years. The venue can hold 30,000 people for a pitch event or 35,000 at a concert, and hosted four matches in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

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