SISK APPOINTED MAIN CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW STADIUM AT LANSDOWNE ROAD
Sisk,
Ireland’s largest construction company, has been appointed main
contractor on the New Stadium at Lansdowne Road. Sisk, who won the
contract following a public procurement tendering process, will have
overall responsibility for the construction of the stadium, which is
scheduled to see its first action in 2010. Sisk is currently
mobilising on site.
The contract with the
Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company (LRSDC) was formally signed
earlier today, 22 November, 2007, in the presence of Mr Seamus Brennan
T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The New Stadium is a joint
venture between the IRFU and the FAI with the Government providing €191
million towards the cost.
Work on the
construction of the nw stadium began in May of this year with the
awarding of both the demolition and sub structure contracts.
Demolition of the old stadium was completed over the August bank
holiday weekend with the demolition of the old West Stand.
Work
on the sub structure commenced in tandem with the demolition
programme. A key element in the new stadium, the construction of a
podium over the DART line, was completed over the October bank
holiday. Along with the construction of the podium a major new
underpass under the railway line was also completed over that weekend.
Currently the sub structure programme is well
advanced. This has included the construction of a basement under the
East Stand and work on a new underground car park under the back
pitch.
Sisk will have complete control over
all of the various construction contracts in relation to the stadium
including the structural steel, the cladding, the instalation of the
pitch etc. In order to meet the LRSDC deadline of matches being played
in the new stadium in 2010 many of these contracts were initially
awarded independently.
Speaking on behalf of Sisk
Mr Tom Costello, the Sisk director in charge of the project, said that
Sisk was delighted to have won the contract given the fact that it has
already been responsible for the construction of Croke Park. “We
believe we have a unique insight into what is required in the
construction of a major sporting venue such as this. We fully realise
that Lansdowne is quite a different stadium than Croke Park but many of
the challenges are the same. We are really excited to have the
opportunity to deliver what is another essential piece of Ireland’s
sporting infrastructure”.
Speaking on behalf of
LRSDC Mr Philip Browne, chairman of the company, said that he was
“delighted with the progress on the stadium to date. The work cntinues
to be on schedule and that is essential. I think everyone connected
with sport in Ireland admires Croke Park. It really is a fantastic
stadium and I think everyone acknowledges that Sisk did a wonderful job
there. We are looking forward to having them on board and to seeing
the new stadium rise out of the ground”.
On
completion the new stadium at Lansdowne Road will have an all seated
capacity of 50,000. The new stadium will consist of a continuous
curvilinear shaped stand enclosing all four sides of the ground. The
South, East and West Stands will have four tiers of seating for
spectators. The second tier will provide facilities for premium ticket
holders while the third tier will provide facilities for corporate
boxes. The North Stand will comprise of one low level seating tier to
reflect its proximity to the residential properties at that end of the
ground.