William Coates Ltd put in a match-winning performance as the M&E contractor for the redevelopment of the National Stadium at Windsor Park, Belfast.
A prestigious project that has had more than its fair share of media scrutiny, the stunning new National Stadium has become a beacon for local football and a fitting venue to host Northern Ireland internationals, local showpiece finals and Irish League games.
For William Coates Ltd, the sheer scale of the project coupled with a phased handover and the fact that European Qualifiers were still taking place at the project all combined to give the team some difficult hurdles to clear throughout the two years on site.
“We are really proud to have been involved in this project, particularly at a time when there is so much focus on the success of Northern Ireland,” said Gary Coleman, Senior Electrical Contracts Manager at William Coates Ltd. “The project is so much in the public eye, so we had a lot of added pressure on us. But I think the results speak for themselves.”
Ryan Scott, HSQE/Compliance Manager, added, “We have extensive experience of working on large scale projects, but the National Stadium redevelopment was very different and offered a lot of unique challenges.
“We take a very proactive approach to our work and we pride ourselves on building strong relationships. Without the partnerships we built up with the main contractor, O’Hare & McGovern, the D&B Architect, Holmes Miller, Client Architect, Hamilton Architects, and the client IFA, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve such a high standard of finish.”
While each stand offered a slightly different challenge, one of the unique aspects of the project was that the new stadium had to meet UEFA Stadium Category 4 standards.
The East Stand contained 1,000m² of office space for use by the IFA and Linfield FC and office space for commercial letting, along with shop outlets and a ticket kiosk for IFA and Linfield. A heritage centre is also currently under construction.
The South Stand ground floor has both domestic and international changing rooms including ice baths, indoor training/warm up areas. Referee and delegate rooms, dedicated manager and coach areas, medical rooms, and players’/family room as well as extensive media facilitates. The upper levels contain corporate boxes and function suites, TV studios and a state-of-the-art control room as well as plant areas. The North Stand was refurbished with a covered concourse being added along with new quadrants to fully enclose the stadium. Finally, the West Stand is also currently under redevelopment.
“In addition to all this, we also carried out additional works around the ground, including in public areas and the car-park,” added Gary. “The electrical installation was delivered to the highest standards in line with the client and UEFA requirements,” explained Gary. “Match days were also stressful as we had to bring in a temporary floodlighting system that had to meet very specific LUX levels to meet the requirements of the TV companies while we were also operating from a temporary power supply through generators.
“Phasing the work around the needs of the Northern Ireland team and also Linfield was a project in itself, but it is all down to effective communication.”
Ryan added, “Our experience in large-scale projects really made a difference in this regard and helped us deliver a world-class stadium. It not only takes the experience of players and supporters to a new level but we also have delivered state-of-the-art corporate and media facilities that will enhance Northern Ireland’s place in world football.”
Keep up to date with current and future projects by following W_Coates_LTD on Twitter and William Coates Ltd on LinkedIn or telephone (NI) 028 9034 2560 or (RoI) 048 9034 2560 or visit www.williamcoates.com
CLICK HERE to read our complete case study on the new National Stadium at Windsor Park and the specialists involved, including:
Access Equipment – Ridgeway
Electrical Control System – Hager
Electrical Suppliers -Walter S. Mercer, Belfast
Fire & Security Systems – G4S Fire & Security Systems
IP Infrastructure – Crown Industries
Lighting – Eaton Electric Ltd
LV/HV Solutions – Hanover Systems
Sound Broadcast and Intercom Systems- MGA Communication Ltd
Wiring Accessories – Scolmore
