Wembley Stadium London : Architecture Information

Redevelopment 1996- 2007 Architects: Foster + Partners / HOK Sport Location: northwest London photos © Nick Weall National Stadium for both England & United Kingdom At almost four times the height of the original, covering twice the area, and with 90,000 seats, the new Wembley Stadium is the largest covered football stadium in the world. The key feature of the new stadium is its partly retractable roof, supported structurally by a spectacular 133-metre-high arch. Dramatically illuminated at night, the arch is visible from across London. Co-architects: HOK S+V+E Wembley Statium - Redevelopment Foster + Partners led by Norman Foster with HOK Sport led by Rod Sheard Approx. cost: £757m aerial picture © webbaviation Originally built for the British Empire Exhibition of 1924, and in turn the site of the Olympic Games in 1948 and the football World Cup Final in 1966, the old Wembley Stadium was the most important sports and entertainment venue in Britain. The challenge in reinventing it for a new century was to build on that heritage and yet create a venue that would be memorable and magical in its own right. With 90,000 seats, standing almost four times the height and covering twice the area of the original, the new stadium is the largest covered arena in the world. Facilities are designed to maximise spectator enjoyment; seats are larger than the old ones, with more leg-room; the highest tiers are easily accessed via escalators; and the concourse that wraps around the building provides catering for up to 40,000 spectators at any one time. One of the things that make the stadium special is the retractable roof, which ensures that the spectator experience is comfortable in all weathers. When the roof is open it ensures that the turf gets sufficient sunlight and air to maintain perfect condition, while in poor weather it can be closed to cover the entire seating bowl. The roof is supported structurally by a spectacular 133-metre-high arch that soars over the stadium, providing an iconic replacement for the old building’s twin towers; conceived as a triumphal gateway, floodlit at night it is a strong symbol for the new Wembley and a new London landmark. The stadium is designed to be ideal for football. Its geometry and steeply raked seating tiers ensure that everyone has an unobstructed view. To recreate the intimate atmosphere and the distinctive ‘Wembley roar’ for which the old stadium was famous, the seats are located as close to the pitch as possible. Yet the building has also been consciously ‘future proofed’, with the ability to host a variety of events, including international track and field events to Olympic standard if required. Wembley Statium - Building Information Client: Wembley National Stadium Limited Consultants: Mott Stadium Consortium, Franklin + Andrews, Mott Stadium Consortium, Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, Ove Arup and Partners, Sinclair Knight Merz (Europe) Limited, Sports Turf Research Institute, Steer Davis Gleeve More information re Wembley Stadium online soon Wembley Stadium architect : Foster + Partners Winner of a RIBA National Award 2008 : RIBA Awards London Stadium Buildings Emirates Stadium Brit Oval London English Football Stadiums Liverpool Stadium Manchester United Stadium Newcastle United Stadium Stadium Buildings Nou Camp Stadium Murrayfield Stadium Barcelona Olympic Stadium Meadowbank Stadium Ibrox Wembley Buildings photo © Nick Weall Wembley Stadium joint architect : HOK Sport