Building Begins on NZ's Biggest Grandstand

Work has started on the construction of the main grandstand for the 2010 World Rowing Championships. At just under 10,000 seats, this will be the biggest temporary grandstand ever built in New Zealand.
The grandstand will stretch 142 metres along the embankment at Lake Karapiro providing covered seating for 6,000 spectators and open seating for another 4,000. It will take approximately six weeks to build.
The topography of the Lake Karapiro embankment and safety requirements posed several design challenges. The grandstand goes over a boat ramp area and, at that point, will be more than 25 metres high. The canopy, which covers the back two thirds of the grandstand, was required to be strong enough to withstand 100 knot winds. The solution has been the innovative use of marquee materials, secured by 112 tons of anchors.
The grandstand was designed by Tonkin & Taylor, New Zealandâs leading engineers, and the canopy will be provided by Carlton Party Hire of Auckland. The grandstand is being constructed by Seating Systems.
As event Chief Executive Tom Mayo explains âthis is another first for New Zealand ⦠thanks to the creative input from a number of top professionals, we are creating the biggest and best temporary grandstand ever built in this country.�?
The 2010 World Rowing Championships, to be held from 30th October to 7th November, is the biggest international sporting event in New Zealand since the 1990 Commonwealth Games. More than 700 athletes from more than 50 countries are expected to compete.
The Championships were last staged in New Zealand, also at Lake Karapiro, in 1978. This will be only the third World Rowing Championships to be held in the southern hemisphere.

http://www.wrch2010.com/