Russia’s largest cable-stayed roof lifted at the Volgograd Arena

Timelapse video showing the Volgograd Arena cable-stayed roofing system being hoisted

Stroytransgaz has finished lifting the cable-stayed roofing system at the Volgograd Arena stadium that is being built for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. This is the first 45,000-seat stadium in Russia with such roof.

“The Volgograd Arena construction has reached a major landmark,” said Project Manager Sergei Kamin. “The cable-stayed roofing system was put into place above the stadium stands, with its top elevation at 49.5m,” he added. Mr. Kamin underlined that the success of the so-called “big lift” should be largely credited to Freyssinet international (Paris), which was called in to perform installation supervision: “This company not just did a big job on the project, but they also transferred their huge experience and knowledge to our many workers, which is very important”.

Installation supervision manager Mark Gonthier said that a multinational team of engineers and supervisors from different countries was involved in the project together with specialists from Volgograd. “The cable-stayed system at the Volgograd Arena is different from other projects we’ve worked on across the world - this stadium has a roof that is more massive, powerful, that’s why it perfectly matches the stately look of the stadium itself. We did a good job of the lift - at each stage we managed to perform as expected on the first try. To a large extent, this was made possible thanks to a good performance at the enabling stage,” said Mark Gonthier. He noted that it is not only the technical aspect that matters, but also the human factor, and thanked Project Manager Sergei Kamin, all Stroytransgaz’ staff and Konar.

The installation was performed in two large stages - enabling works, which took several months (installation of temporary structures, laying of cables, assembly of necessary components) and the “big lift” itself. “First, the upper cable section was lifted to the height of 27 meters,” said Mark Gonthier. “Then we installed the L consoles, then attached the lower cable section to them and, by tensioning the lower cable section we lifted the heavy metal structure to its design height,” he added.

In future Stroytransgaz’ specialists will attach the roof cover, a flexible membrane resistant to temperature differences, to the cable-stayed system. The roof subsystem, consisting of structural steel to which the membrane itself will be attached, is already being installed over the lobby area. The overall area of roofing above the stands and the lobby is 77,000 sq.m.

Continuing is the installation of the football pitch equipment in spaces located under the stands. Interior finishing of rooms, installation of floor-to-ceiling glazing and hinged ventilated facades is underway. Construction of entrance lobbies and encircling walking gallery is reaching completion. Utilities and equipment are being installed, landscaping of the stadium site is in progress. Over 2,000 persons are employed on-site.