Jones Weatherproofing were contracted to undertake a combination of steel penetration, access hatch, and weatherproofing works as part of the development of Manchester City Football Club’s Football Academy and the adjacent expansion of Manchester City Football Club’s Etihad Stadium.
Led by Laing O’Rourke, the Etihad Stadium project saw the expansion of the facility (originally constructed for the 2002 Commonwealth Games) up from a capacity of 48,000 to 54,000, and later up to 60,000 with the addition of the North Stand. Additional project features included an expansion in the amenities for fans, corporate hospitality, and visitors. Jones Weatherproofing were selected for the Etihad Stadium project on the recommendation of Brett Martin because of the durability of Jones Weatherproofing’s products, as well as proven adhesion to their own range of products.
Work on the Football Academy was undertaken with BAM and the FK Group to deliver a state-of-the-art youth development and first team training facility on an 80-acre site next to the existing stadium. The academy was developed to provide up to 400 young players with a centre for their training, as well as housing for the first team’s training base and the wider club operations.
Jones Weatherproofing were suggested for the project by the FK Group, with whom the organisation has a longstanding working relationship backed by a strong track record for service delivery across projects.
Additional reasoning for the selection of Jones Weatherproofing across the two projects was for their recognition for client priorities. They recognise that, especially when it comes to football stadiums, clients prioritise keeping much of the steelwork out of the view of spectators to support their viewing experience. This demands a far more robust and resilient approach to solutions with a cantilever system above the roof (rather than below it) to support that customer experience. With this comes the requirement for a bespoke, more resilient solution which can handle the movement and wind factors related to structural movement – this being something that Jones Weatherproofing have showcased among many of their large profile projects.
Maintaining client budgets and deadlines through prefabrication
Due to the public nature of stadiums, it proved important for both projects that work could be completed in a timely manner. Indeed, the completion of Jones Weatherproofing’s works were essential to providing a safe working environment for further contractors to continue on-site. To facilitate a quick turnaround of service, Jones Weatherproofing designed, manufactured and prefabricated the solutions off-site, on a bespoke basis. This allowed for a vast reduction in the amount of time spent on site, the potential for logistical delays and associated workforce costs to be reduced, and for preparatory site work to be completed in a safe and efficient manner.
Neil Boylan, contracts director at Jones Weatherproofing, who handled the project, explained: “The time spent on site can be very challenging when there are other trades also expected on-site to carry out their works. Our work must be planned so that time on site is minimal to meet deadlines. To achieve this, we complete a lot of the production in our factories. A large amount is prefabricated and bespoke for each individual column or project. It’s then taken to the site, applied, and weatherproofed. This process is a big plus for everyone concerned because it causes minimal fuss and ensures a higher degree of health and safety due to a reduced time needed for working at height.”
Through the delivery of a bespoke solution, Jones Weatherproofing were once again able to tackle the challenges of the sporting facilities sector and deliver leading weatherproofing solutions which support the overall customer experience for Manchester City Football Club fans.
To learn more about our bespoke approach to services and how we can deliver hassle-free weatherproofing services, get in touch with a member of our team to discuss further.
