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SISK Appointed Main Contractor For New Stadium

SISK Appointed Main Contractor For New Stadium

Sisk, Ireland’s largest construction company, has been appointed main contractor for the new stadium. Sisk, who won the contract following a public procurement tendering process, will have overall responsibility for the construction of the stadium, which is scheduled to see its first action in 2010.

The contract with the LRSDC was formally signed earlier today in the presence of Seamus Brennan T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The new stadium is a joint venture between the IRFU and the FAI with the Government providing €191 million towards the cost.
 
Work on the construction of the new stadium began in May of this year with the awarding of both the demolition and sub structure contracts. Demolition of the old stadium was completed over the August Bank Holiday weekend with the demolition of the old West Stand.

Work on the sub structure commenced in tandem with the demolition programme. A key element of the new stadium, the construction of a podium over the DART line, was completed over the October Bank Holiday. Along with the construction of the podium, a major new underpass under the railway line was also completed over that weekend.
 
Currently the sub structure programme is well advanced. This has included the construction of a basement under the East Stand and work on a new underground car park under the back pitch.
 
Sisk will have complete control over all of the various construction contracts in relation to the stadium, including the structural steel, the cladding, the installation of the pitch, etc.


In order to meet the LRSDC deadline of matches being played in the new stadium in 2010, many of these contracts were initially awarded independently.
 
Speaking on behalf of Sisk, Tom Costello, the Sisk director in charge of the project, said that Sisk was delighted to have won the contract given the fact that it has already been responsible for the construction of Croke Park.


“We believe we have a unique insight into what is required in the construction of a major sporting venue such as this. We fully realise that Lansdowne is quite a different stadium to Croke Park but many of the challenges are the same,” he said.


“We are really excited to have the opportunity to deliver what is another essential piece of Ireland’s sporting infrastructure.”


IRFU chief executive Philip Browne, the chairman of LRSDC, said that he was “delighted with the progress on the stadium to date.”


“The work continues to be on schedule and that is essential. I think everyone connected with sport in Ireland admires Croke Park.


“It really is a fantastic stadium and I think everyone acknowledges that Sisk did a wonderful job there. We are looking forward to having them on board and to seeing the new stadium rise out of the ground,” he added.
 
On completion, the new stadium will have an all-seated capacity of 50,000. The new stadium will consist of a continuous curvilinear shaped stand enclosing all four sides of the ground.


The South, East and West Stands will have four tiers of seating for spectators.  The second tier will provide facilities for premium ticket holders while the third tier will provide facilities for corporate boxes.


The North Stand will comprise of one low level seating tier to reflect its proximity to the residential properties at that end of the ground.


For further information on the new stadium, please visit http://www.lrsdc.ie/.