Grandstand Roof Rises Above the Ruck
13 May 2002
| Location: | Manly, New South Wales |
| Country: | Australia |
| Project Size: | A$1.75 million |
| Client: | Manly Oval Trust Manly City Council |
| Architect: | Lindsay Henry, Group GSA Architects Ph: 02 9361 4144 |
| Engineer: | Connell Mott MacDonald |
| Builder: | D.G. Sundin & Company Axis Metal Roofing |
| Fabricator: | Edcon Steel |
Sydney rugby union club Manly succumbed in the 2002 season opener to Randwick 20-31, but the team's supporters revelled in the club's eye catching new grandstand. The lightweight steel roof over the grandstand is the major part of a A$1.75 million upgrade to Manly Oval, including the grandstand and adjoining amenities building.
The 22 metre span of the circular roof assembled from LYSAGHT® steel roofing products provides shelter for most of the grandstand's 1,100 seats. The concept behind the roof design by Group GSA architects was to create a clean and simple floating structure allowing a clear view into the oval and the surrounding parklands for motorists and passers-by from the main road to Manly.
Project design architect, Lindsay Henry, said the historic oval and park established in the 1880s was a unique 'village green'-style open space for the local community which the Manly Council and Manly Oval Trust were keen to preserve. "The redevelopment retains the village atmosphere and openness of the Manly Oval precinct, where people still freely cross through the park, to walk their dogs - and children are welcome to run and train on the oval," Mr Henry said.
"The roof design was slim and simple. People sitting under the grandstand appreciate the feeling of openness and the unobstructed 360 degree panoramic view, with the roof seemingly hovering on the side supports. "It doesn't overpower the rest of the oval, but it is a very clean, simple design that provides coverage which the club and spectators will appreciate all year round," Mr Henry said.
"Working within a tight budget we re-used the original piered concrete footings for the two buttresses which support the roof, and the new aluminium seating was located on the original galvanized steel supports."
LYSAGHT TRIMDEK® sheeting covers the grandstand, with the underside lined in LYSAGHT CUSTOM ORB® sheeting. The Surfmist® coloured sheeting was manufactured from COLORBOND® Ultra prepainted steel to increase the roof's durability in view of its proximity to Manly beach.
The adjacent Amenities Building has been refurbished and includes improved change rooms, first aid rooms, a function room, community facilities and kiosk. It is covered by a Surfmist® coloured LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® roof, also in COLORBOND® Ultra steel. The roof structure engineered by Connell Mott MacDonald includes LYSAGHT® Cee purlins and was assembled on the ground before being lifted into place by crane.
Edcon Steel at Brookvale supplied and fabricated all the structural steel. The building work was carried out by D.G. Sundin & Company, and Axis Metal Roofing installed the roof on the grandstand and the amenities building.
