Severfield is responsible for the design of steel-tosteel connections and for supplying and constructing 12,200 tonnes of structural steelwork – 1,500 tonnes of which is recycled steel – comprising the bowl (terracing) and roof for the Everton Football Club stadium. The project scope also includes the installation of concrete lattice planks which, when combined with steel, make up the floors of the terraces and concrete terracing units that will house the seating.

The north and south roofs comprise five long-span trusses – two in the north and three in the south – each measuring 170 metres and weighing an impressive 200 tonnes. Due to the significant size of each steel truss, each had to be split into three sections, typically measuring 60–70 metres long.

During the construction stage, each roof section is supported on temporary towers (trestles). Rafters and purlins were preassembled on the pitch to create panels that were clad at ground level. Once the stand is complete, the trestles are used to lower the roof structure in stages, until the load is fully released from the trestles onto the structural bearings, allowing the steelwork to ‘deflect’ in accordance with the project design.

The location of the new ground on the docks is one of the most prominent features of this project. Prior to construction, the dock was full of water and the retaining walls were Grade II listed – just one of the heritage features that needed to be protected. To maintain the flow of water to the city’s canal system and to protect the listed walls, the dock had to be filled with layers of sand. This ingenious design allows the dock to be returned to its original state at any point in the future, should this ever be required. Further challenges encountered include the high wind speeds and other weather exposure, which are part-and-parcel of the project being located on a dock. As a result of Severfield’s precise modelling and simulation, and wider knowledge and expertise, we are currently on track to deliver the project on time.

Everyone involved in this project has played a key role in its success, achieving every programme target and milestone set, and taking great pride in the delivery of this complex and technical project – all with safety at the forefront.