Firm footing

Managing pedestrian flow is a critical element of any stadium design. For Eden Park, the elevated western concourse helps ensure the crowds are quickly dispersed.

Harris Dowd Construction, a specialist in concrete structures, was responsible for the construction of the concrete concourse, from its foundation and 8m-high columns to the precast and in situ beams and concrete floor slabs. Director Graham Dowd says more than 1500m³ of concrete were poured in situ, starting with blinding concrete poured into the volcanic rock foundation pads. This formed a solid base for the foundation pads on the lower level.

These pads, the 700mm-diameter columns and the upper floor slabs were also poured in situ, while the concrete beams were a mix of precast and in situ concrete.

Dowd says the company was contracted to provide all the formwork, concrete supply, concrete pumping, the mobile crane to erect precast beams and Dycore flooring units, and the falseworks and propping system to support the beams and precast panels. "The most challenging aspects of the project were the 8m-high columns, the active programme and a very congested site for deliveries," he says.

Harris Dowd associate company Gibbons Contractors supplied precast concrete seating for the streetscape garden areas.

HARRIS DOWD CONSTRUCTION

PO Box 331120, Takapuna, Auckland 0740Phone (09) 447 3250 Fax (09) 447 3251harrisdowd@xtra.co.nz