Te Swedbank Arena is currently under construction

in Solna. Arenabolaget is the developer, and when

the arena is complete in 2012 it will be Scandinavias
biggest, most modern multifunctional arena. Te Swe-
dish national football team will play here, world artistes
will perform on stage and the coolest shows will be held.
Te objective is to arrange the biggest events covering
most interests: international football matches, the derby,
speedway, winter sports and concerts. Te Swedbank
Arena will be the obvious place to perform for big-
name artistes touring the world.
Authors:
Lars Cederfeldt, Sweco Structures
Lars Hansson, Sweco Structures
The arena. Space for 50 000 spectators over three levels. Roof with a span of 162m and clear height of 32m.
Roof opening 107x68m which can be covered with a mobile roof.
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Roof structure - A world-class challenge
To meet the extremely stringent fnancial
demands for an investment of this kind, the
arenas calendar of events has to be full and
the arena has to be in use all year round. One
important parameter in this regard is the cli-
mate in these northerly parts. This is why
the Swedbank Arena has been ftted with a
sliding roof which allows it to accommodate
both indoor and outdoor events. It will also
be possible to use the foor space to accom-
modate grass, ice or gravel.
The Swedbank Arena will have a capacity
of 50 000 spectators for sporting events. The
inner level can be used to further increase
capacity, so allowing a capacity of 65 000
spectators to be achieved.
Competition in the entertainment industry
these days is incredibly tough, and the arena
has to be perceived as state-of-the-art and
exciting. To give visitors that perfect expe-
rience when they come here, comfortable
seating has to be installed and there must
be good views from all locations. Arena
screens and well developed audio techno-
logy will be installed. In addition, there will
be plenty of options for food and drink, a
large number of entrances to the arena and a
well developed infrastructure so that people
can get to and from the arena easily, quickly
and without hassle. With all this, we aim to
ensure that your trip to the arena is a positive
experience.
The Swedbank Arena is situated in the
Arenastaden district in the northern part of
the municipality of Solna. Ashopping centre,
offces and homes are planned for the Arena-
staden district. The idea is for the Swedbank
Arena to be the hub and heart of the district.
There will be readily accessible restaurants
and bars to hand, which means that visiting
the arena site will be worthwhile even where
there are no events on.
Initial requirements for the design
The design of the arena has grown up in
close cooperation with architects and clients
and has been based on the following steering
initial requirements.
Arena for 50 000 spectators on grand
stands.
The option of arranging lots of dif
ferent types of event, which means that
the steel structure in the roof has to be
able to withstand large loads and fast
conversions.
Retractable roof
Sweco Structure has held responsibility for
the design of the steel roof from the concept
state to programme documentation, system
documentation and construction documen-
tation, including the product of all manufac-
turing and installation documentation.
The design of the roof is steered by the
geometry of the grandstands and the requi-
rements for a circular track for the mobile
roof. After this, there has been a requirement
to create as economical a load-bearing sys-
tem as possible. Initially, an important issue
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Swedbank Arena
was whether the roof opening should be
entirely free of steel structures throughout.
After much consideration, a roof opening
with steel structures throughout was selec-
ted. It appeared that the inconvenience in the
form of a lost sense of the outdoors can be
compensated for by a light steel frame and
at the same time very slim roof opening ele-
ments. Another important contribution was
the world-unique concept involving the sus-
pension of event equipment from the mobile
roof. Thus keeping to a minimum structures
and dimensions which are exposed in the
free roof opening has been a strong ambi-
tion. Furthermore, shadows on the pitch
from the steel structure are not such a major
problem in Sweden as the sun is normally
quite low at the time of the intended events.
There is also an option to partly close the
roof in order to eradicate all shadows on the
pitch.
The main reason for a structure throughout
is, of course, fnancial, and the weight of the
steel we now have for the arena, including
the mobile roof, totals 4300 tonnes. On an
international scale, for an arena of this ca-
pacity, this is a very low fgure; particularly
considering the fact that we have signif-
cantly higher snow loads in Sweden than is
the case in most arenas of around the same
size.
The installation of a steel roof of this size is
an enormous expense, and one objective has
been to be able to install it with a minimum
of temporary installation arrangements.
We will be using around 250 tonnes of steel
in total for installation of the arena. In this
regard, it is necessary to be aware that there
are examples of arenas where temporary in-
stallation structures weigh as much as the
weight of the steel for the fnal roof.
The structure is characterised by an effective
interaction between beams and the scale ef-
fect, high steel where these can be utilised,
consistently implemented cost optimisation
and the results of good interaction between
the steel contractor, steel designer and buil-
ding contractor.
All in all, it may be stated that the roof is a
Main walkway over the grandstands around the
entire roof for installations; lighting, loudspea-
kers, etc.
very economical structure, while at the same
time the architectonic and functional targets
have been met.
DESIGNCRITERA
Dead weight
With large spans, it is necessary always to
maintain a stringent ambition: to restrict
dead weights which constitute some 25% of
the total load. This is even more necessary in
the case of the mobile roof, as the cost of the
drive system is affected mainly by the dead
weight of the roof.
Thus it is important to limit the dead weight,
but also to keep it under control throughout
the entire project planning process.
Snow
Besides the evenly distributed load of 1.6
kN/m2, the roof has also been dimensioned
in the Stockholm area for snow pockets and
an unevenly distributed snow load of 2.0
kN/m2 on one side and 1.0 kN/m2 on the
opposite side.

Wind
The arena will be exposed to a range of dif-
ferent wind situations as it may be both open
and closed. CFD analyses have been carried
out by SMHI in instances where it is diff-
cult to fnd directly applicable norm values.
In these analyses, it has been possible to si-
mulate the air fow and establish the dimen-
sioning criteria.
Loads from events
There are a large number of intended events
which will require load capacity on both the
fxed and the mobile roof. The intention is
for the roof to be able to meet all the de-
mands which may be made of a world-class
arena both now and in the future. Various
intended arrangements have been converted
into a range of load alternatives which will
then form the basis for the dimensioning of
the arena.
The arena is characterised by a large load
capacity in the roof, but also by major fexi-
bility in the positioning of load points due to
the extensive system of walkways, mainly in
the mobile roof.
Mechanics
Besides the direct forces during winching of
the roof, the following must be taken into
account: test laying of lines, oblique forces,
line breakage, etc.
Installations
These are concentrated mainly at the load on
the bridge system in the roof and originate
fro lighting, loudspeakers, electric cables,
etc. The roof has an extensive walkway sys-
tem which will provide good opportunities
for the supplementation of equipment and
servicing.
Description of the fxed roof
The roof is held up by a total of 40 short pil-
lars down to the top edge of the grandstand
structure and is designed as a single large
unit with no movement joints. Horizontally,
the roof is stabilised by four vertical joints
in the centre of short sides and long sides.
Temperature stresses in the roof are mini-
mised by providing all pillars and vertical
joints with angle deformation bearings at the
top and bottom.
The main load-bearing system is made up
of four triangular frameworks which extend
162m across the arena, but there is also a
scale effect in the roof which causes pressu-
re in the beams around the rectangular roof
opening and drag in an external ring beam
around the arena. The primary function of
the scale effect is to help to bear the load on
the short sides. Essentially, it may be stated
that the scale effect provides vertical support
to the roof at the corner points of the roof
opening. See Figure xxxx, System diagram
- Scale effect.
The structure is designed to be screwed to-
gether at the assembly location, with a few
exceptions. The exceptions are the tie beam
bars in the main frameworks and joints in
treadways for the mobile roof.
Main frameworks
These frameworks are triangular, with two
rafter bars made of round tubes (steel qua-
lity S460, external diameter 1067mm). The
frame bars are 15.28m apart, and the frame-
work is 16.5m high. The rafter bars are ftted
with end plates and screwed together during
assembly. The tie beam bar comprises an
open, U-shaped profle with sloping sides
(steel quality S690).
This profle is welded together in the work-
shop and at the assembly location using
high-strength electrodes. The open profle
made it possible to weld and inspect these
important welds from two sides.
The diagonals which connect to the end
supports are made up of double plates (steel
quality S900). These plates are manufactu-
red entirely without welded joints so that the
tensile strength of the material can be utili-
sed optimally. Other diagonals are made up
of round tubes with an external diameter of
250-660 mm.
The main frameworks on the short sides
have a span of 47m and are made up of round
tubes and a rafter bar made of welded I-pro-
fle. The frameworks are approx. 4m high.
Around the arena runs an edge beam made
of welded I-profle which acts as a draw ring
for the scale effect. Primary beams comprise
hot-rolled I-profles.
Purlins made of welded or rolled profles
designed with circular curvature are used to
build up the curved roof shape. On the short
sides, the curves are varied in order to ac-
hieve the shape with double curvature, and
also the upper fange is supplemented with
additional sloping panels in order to create
good support for the roof elements.
Pillars and vertical joints are made up of
circular tubes of a diameter of 300 460mm
and 14-28mm thick.
The main frameworks for the fxed roof are
prepared with fxings for the mechanical
components before they leave the work-
shop.
One particular problem which affects the
fxed roof is how to deal with deformations
caused by dead weight during assembly. This
is a dimensioning problem on the one hand,
but it is also something which very much af-
fects the options for physically being able to
put together all joints during assembly.
One way of dealing with the problem
could have been for a series of temporary
structures to bear the weight of the structure
until the entire structure was complete. This
then achieves what is known as a stressless
assembly, but often at a high cost.
In our case, we have chosen instead to make
the frameworks excessively high to the ex-
tent that the ones freely raised under a dead
weight load return to their theoretical shape
so that fnal completion of the steel structure
can take place and so that the fnal scale ef-
fect can start to function. This excess height
is also executed in terms of calculation so
that the scale effect is disabled in the case of
dead weight loads.
In the event that all theories and the assess-
ment of dead weights are incorrect, there are
also spacer plates of different thicknesses
which can be swapped so that the structure
can be assembled.
Description of the walkway system in the
fxed roof
There is an extensive walkway system in
the roof so that the arena can be utilised
optimally for all types of event, and for
operation and maintenance. In total, there
are around 2800 m2 of service platforms
in the fxed roof and 1600 m2 of service
platforms in the mobile roof. To get up to
the walkway system for the roof, there are
four sets of collapsible stairs located at the
four corners of the football pitch. Once up in
the walkway system, communication takes
place between the various walkways via an
extensive system of stairs and sloping areas.
From the walkways along the roof opening
(corresponding to the periphery of the foot-
< Static system with a combination of beam
effects in the four main frameworks, along with
scale effect.
Joint which links the tie beam bar in the main
framework with tie rods (steel quality S900) for
pillar support.
Triangular main framework. Span 162m, structural height 16m. The distance between rafter bars is 15.28m.
Section
Information carriers
ball pitch itself), you can fnally access the
walkways located in the mobile roof. Once
up in the mobile roof, there is a pattern of
walkways which are designed only to permit
items to be suspended for various events.
The walkway system is a support structure
for the stationary equipment required in
the arena in the form of audio equipment,
lighting equipment and installations such as
electricity, ventilation, monitoring and me-
chanical equipment. In addition, the walk-
way system should support various types of
temporary event equipment, such as stages,
curtains and additional audio and lighting
equipment. For these purposes, special
beams are prepared for suspension of various
items of mobile equipment. All mechanical
components used when opening and closing
the mobile roof must be accessible, and the-
re are a number of service platforms here to
facilitate operation and maintenance.
One important aspect which will be taken
into account during work on the walkway
system is safety issues, primarily accessibi-
lity to the walkway system from the grand-
stands. It must not be possible for unauthori-
sed persons to get up into the roofs walkway
system either for relatively innocent reasons
such as playing pranks, or with terrorism in
mind.
Description of the mobile roof
The mobile roof consists of two halves,
108x34m in size, which move on eight
circular moving beams. Each half of the roof
weighs a total of 420 tonnes. Each half of
the roof has fve bogies which run on each
moving beam. At the second outermost mo-
ving beams, there is a winch which pulls up.
The drive stations for these are located di-
rectly beneath the ea-
ves on either long
side; that is, there is
a total of four drive
stations. There are
guide rollers at one
of the inner moving
beams for guiding
the movement of
the roof.
The mobile roof
is equipped with
a large number of
walkways and sus-
pension beams for
event equipment.
These structural
elements are con-
structed as space
frames and consti-
tute a system for
bearing the vertical
and radial loads on
the roof. One ma-
jor advantage of placing event equipment in
the mobile roof is that the roof opening is as
clean as possible during use as an outdoor
arena.
case - one is working on a project which has
been ongoing for almost four years.
In order to deal with this, as far as the steel
side of things is concerned we have worked
according to a strict system, dividing the pro-
cess into a number of information carriers.
There is a person responsible for each and
out risk analyses of what could go wrong.
We have also carried out a number of design
reviews with clients, contractors and other
consultants for the most important interfaces
and information carriers. On fnal delivery
of every stage, checks have been carried out
to ensure that all predetermined quality me-
asures have been implemented.
Production
Production of the steel structures for the fx-
ed roof has taken place at Ruukkis factories
in Finland in accordance with production
drawings produced by Sweco. A number of
coordination meetings have been held bet-
ween Sweco and Ruukki for coordination of
the structure of details, including division
into assembly units, and for devising joint
preparations.
All the lifting lugs which have been re-
quested by Ruukki have been inserted by
Sweco in the structure model, and these have
been included in the production drawings.
Sweco has also planned projects and produ-
ced production drawings for erection towers
required for the assembly of the main fram-
eworks on the ground prior to lifting. Trucks
are used for transportation to the assembly
site. The biggest transport units weigh 34
tonnes and are 34m long. The main structure
The frst diagonal in the main frameworks during
assembly
Lars Hansson,
assignmnet leader for
the steel roof.
The design challenge for the mobile roof
has involved handling the relatively small,
widespread loads which result in a ground
system with very slim profles, in combina-
tion with the concentrated, very high forces
which occur when hauling ropes are at-
tached, at end stops and when the roof is mo-
ved to the sides mechanically. At the same
time, for fnancial reasons the aim has been
to produce as lightweight a roof structure as
possible in order to restrict the cost of me-
chanical components and drive stations. The
plane element action in the roofng sheets
have been utilised for the mobile roof.
Risk analyses and quality work
Sweco Structure has held responsibility for
the steel structure from the concept stage,
via programmes and system documentation,
and fnally for the production of construc-
tion documentation, including manufactur-
ing and assembly documents. Of course, ha-
ving been part of the project for such a long
time, as well as having good continuity th-
roughout all phases of the project is an asset,
but at the same time ensuring that none of
the early requirements are forgotten or fall
between two stools is a major responsibility.
This is particularly diffcult when - as in this
The frst rafter bar is mounted on the erection tower.
Length 34m, weight 34 tonnes. The tie beam bar in the
form of a U-shaped profle has already been ftted.
Welding at Ruukki in Finland. This part is desig-
ned for the attachment of double tie rods (steel
quality S900).
Joint in a rafter bar during production at Ruukki.
Each framework is mounted on fve erection
towers around 20m tall.
every one of these, along with procedures
for self-inspection and review. See Figure -
Information carriers. One basic rule is that it
must be possible to rely on details in infor-
mation carriers which are higher up in the
hierarchy. In order to control self-inspection
and review in relation to the most important
issues, we started off the project by carrying
Lars Cederfeldt, design
manager for the steel
roof
is painted a dark or light grey shade. Most of
the walkways are hot dip galvanised.
Production of the mobile roof is taking place
at Hollandias factories in the Netherlands,
also on the basis of design and production
drawings from Sweco.
Assembly
A number of meetings have been held for
assembly planning, involving designers
and contractors involved. In order to pre-
vent mistakes during assembly, the designer
has worked in accordance with EN 1090-2
to compile a document entitled Frutstt-
ningar fr montage [Assembly criteria].
This defnes the various assembly stages and
describes which temporary stabilising struc-
tures are required. All the necessary analy-
ses of the various assembly stages have then
been carried out by the designer. On the ba-
sis of this document, the various contractors
are then producing their assembly plans.
The intention of the document entitled Fr-
utsttningar fr montage [Assembly crite-
ria] is to systematise and pass on knowledge
relating to the various assembly stages to
all parties involved. Above all, it has been
important to study the interfaces between
various contractors so as to ensure that no
misunderstandings arise. This is particularly
important in a major project like this one,
where there are a number of different cont-
ractors and designers working in coopera-
tion.
Find out more on the Internet
www.arenastaden.se
Assembly of main frameworks;
a) Assembly on fve erection towers, 20m high.
b) Lifting using four lifting towers to a height of 50m above the pitch. Main framework weight
approx. 600 tonnes.
c,d) Completion with outer parts of the main frameworks, plus sinking of the permanent pillar
supports. Temporary bracing along the main framework.
Tie rods (steel quality S900), dimensions 40x220
mm, length 16m. Cut from a single sheet and
entirely unwelded.
Developer: Arenabolaget
Design-build contractor: Peab AB
Architect: Krook & Tjder,
Bergs Arkitekter AB
Project planner, steel:
Sweco Structures AB
Project planner, foundations:
Sweco Structures AB
Project planner, frame completion:
Sweco Structures AB
Project planner, mechanics: UNI-System.
System documentation, mechanics:
Tikab strukturmekanik AB
Steel contractor, fxed roof: Ruukki
Steel contractor, mobile roof: Hollandia
Inspection: Force Technology
Supplier, mechanics: Hollandia
Steel weights:
Fixed roof 4000 tonnes
Mobile roof 350 tonnes for two roof halves.
a)
b)
c)
d)