Ricoh Arena*

Smart design management and value management harnessed economical ways to achieve the desired outcomes without compromising the final design quality.

Date: 2002 – 2004

 

Client: Coventry City Council

 

Project Location: Coventry, UK

 

Services Provided: Project Management, Design Management, Value and Risk Management, Procurement and Tendering

The Ricoh Arena has a capacity of 32,000, provides international standard soccer and rugby facilities, and includes an integrated exhibition arena, hotel franchise, shopping street and a major commercial leisure industry tenant.

The old stadium did not conform to new regulations and its planned replacement failed to gain traction over several years. This led to the local authority stepping in with a ‘consortium rescue package’ that placed conditions regarding surety of capital and operating costs.

The stadium was built on a contaminated, local authority owned site. The site was located out of town but accessible by motorway and rail. To make up lost time the site preparation/ enabling works contract was let in parallel with the design.

Paul Haggath assumed the role of project manager and along with the local authority undertook a commercial viability and value management review.A structured value management and design review led by Paul and his team.

A number of key elements and outcomes were identified from the review and resulted in the capital costs being returned to budget:

  • The stadium’s capacity was re-sized accordingly to meet business case needs.
  • The city’s need for a convention/exhibition space was integrated into the project, along with innovative integration of hotel functions with matchday corporate and hospitality suites.
  • The site’s natural contours were integrated into the stand design to minimise earthworks and structural
  • Procurement was restructured to a competitive design and build form of project to obtain best value and innovative construction input at early stages.

Lessons to be shared

Key to making the Ricoh Arena financially viable was the incorporation of anchor tenants whom contribute to making the venue a seven-days-a-week destination. The tenants include a casino, exhibition and convention space, and an integrated hotel.

This project demonstrates how strategic integration and mixing of corporate and commercial elements into a stadium design can provide a commercially viable facility that also meets the broader needs of the community.

Smart design management and value management harnessed economical ways to achieve the desired outcomes without compromising the final design quality.

*This case study reflects a project undertaken by Paul Haggath pre-TEAM