Sergey Pichushkin: Nizhny Novgorod Stadium is an embodiment of “classic brutality”

See the photo gallery of the stadium (January 2017)

A modern stadium for 45 thousand seats is being built in Nizhny Novgorod, which will host 6 matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The frame of the building is ready, residents and visitors can already see the outlines of the future arena. JSC Stroytransgaz is the General Contractor to the Project. Five hundred days left before the World Cup and a construction manager of Nizhny Novgorod Stadium Sergey Pichushkin told about work pace and nuances concerning the construction of this sports facility.

- Sergey Valerievich, it is only 500 days left until the FIFA World Cup. At what rate the facility is being built? Will you put the stadium into service in due time?

- Our work schedule is specified in the state contract. There are milestones, there are time frames for the commencement and completion of the works. Construction is carried out in accordance with the schedule, and we will put the stadium into service in December 2017. Nizhny Novgorod Stadium illustrates that such a complex facility can be built very quickly, efficiently and in time. Notice how big it has become. It is the most important proof that Stroytransgaz is hard at work.

- What is the readiness of the facility today?

- A monolithic structure of the stadium is ready. The construction of all the floors of the arena, upper tier of the stands, and 132 support columns is completed. In total, we have poured more than 160 thousand cubic meters of concrete since the beginning of the construction. Now the main efforts are directed to the installation of the roof steel structures.

- It is hard to work in winter conditions?

- It is really hard to build in wintertime. For example, we interlocked the inner support ring of the roof consisting of 16 steel modules at the end of last year. Each module weighs about 220 tons; the works are carried out at height – cold weather and wind are more severe than on the ground. Working conditions are very heavy for installers. At the same time, any mistakes are inadmissible. Perfect accuracy and coordinated work are required to connect structures of the support ring with a total weight of 3.5 thousand tons at a height of over 40 meters. This process can be compared with the high point of construction of a subway, when two different tunnels are connected.

- What kind of works should be carried out in 2017?

- The main task for this year is the completion of installation of the roof steel structures, completion of concreting of the low tier stands and pedestrian overpass, as well as installation of the roof, facade, football field, seats, utility systems, along with finishing works, landscaping, and, as a result, putting the stadium into service with the following acceptance by the customer. The works on the field and utility systems will be carried out up to the moment when the stadium is put into service. Certainly, there is not much time left but the works are carried out on all fronts simultaneously, so there is nothing to worry about.

- Tell us about the features of the stadium in Nizhny Novgorod. How will it differ from other Russian and international arenas?

- Almost all the major stadiums in the world have a unique structure. Our facility has several individual features. For example, 88 triangular columns that surround the stadium circle wise and play an important role in shaping its architectural look.

Another feature is that Nizhny Novgorod Stadium has a very heavy and massive roof. It weighs almost 12 thousand tonnes taking into account the roof of translucent polycarbonate.

And, certainly, the stadium is located in a historic district known as Strelka next to the confluence of two major rivers – the Volga and the Oka. This is, perhaps, its main highlight.

- Will the stadium, in your opinion, fit harmoniously into the surrounding landscape? Tell us about the architectural look of the arena.

- During the development of the project, architects took into account the proximity of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, so the design of the stadium is made in classic style. From afar, the stadium can be associated even with an ancient Greek temple. When one floats past the stadium on a boat or on a water tram, he/she will see that it forms a beautiful ensemble together with the cathedral.

I think that our facility is an embodiment of “classic brutality”. The stadium is massive and reinforced-concrete, but its triangular columns, facade and roof will add some kind of lightness and airiness. This effect is achieved due to the fact that Volga nature themes are used for the project – wind and water. Stands are located in accordance with wavelike pattern, colour scheme will include white, dark blue and blue colours.

- Winds are heavy near the river. Will the stadium’s facade protect spectators from the wind?

- Certainly, windproof membrane will be an important element of the facade. It will provide maximum comfort for spectators. In general, the building of the stadium is a kind of a bowl in the center of which a football field will be located. If one goes inside at this stage of construction, he/she will feel that there is practically no wind.

- When will you begin installation of the roof? What will it be?

- We will start to install the roof of translucent polycarbonate, which protects spectators from the rain, in the spring. First, we will install dehydration trays. It is quite difficult to ensure the collection of water from an area of 57 thousand square meters. Can you imagine the volume of water which should be directed in case of heavy rain! Besides trays we will use sheet metal subsystems for polycarbonate and polycarbonate itself as blue and white blocks.

- Football field will be the focus of the audience from around the world. When do you plan to start work on it?

- We plan to start the construction of football field in the spring. The lawn will be equipped with modern aeration system, drainage and heating. If suddenly starts to rain during the game, the field will dry out quickly. Heating will provide an opportunity to conduct training and matches at any time of the year.

To ensure that the quality of the lawn is high in the beginning of the games, it is important to sow it in a right way and carefully look after it. Highly qualified agronomists, which were chosen by us, will work on this issue, and I am sure that they will cope with the task.

- Do Novgorod companies participate in the construction of the stadium?

- Yes, currently several local subcontractors are involved in the project. They deliver building materials, carry out in-situ concreting, build partitions and walls in various sectors of the stadium, and install elevator equipment. I am pleased with the quality of their work. Earlier works on the stadium were successfully completed by about six subcontractors from Nizhny Novgorod Region, including JSC Volgastalkonstruktsiya which performed high-quality in-situ concreting.

- How the current economic situation did affect the project?

- Within the framework of the Russian Federation Government order Stroytransgaz is implementing a program of import substitution, which mainly deals with utility systems. In particular, we found Russian suppliers of ventilation and smoke protection systems. In case of civil engineering, almost all the materials that we use are domestic products including concrete, rebar, steel.

- Six matches of the 2018 World Cup will be held in Nizhny Novgorod. Are you going to visit any of them? What football team do you support?

- It will be a great pleasure to become a spectator at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. I am a fan of the Russian team. We all remember the year 2008 when our team won quarterfinals. It is noteworthy that in 2018 it will be exactly 10 years after our most successful performance at the biggest football tournament in the country's modern history. Maybe our athletes will be able to repeat or even surpass the success. I understand that this is a very ambitious dream but it is beyond argument that the opportunity to see the Russian team in Nizhny Novgorod in quarterfinals is inspiring.

See continuation of the interview on the website of NIA Nizhny Novgorod