ABBA Arena

LONDON, UK, 2022

About the project

Working with Stufish Architects, Atelier One developed the structural engineering and façade design for the world’s largest demountable theatre and all the front-of-house timber canopies and accommodations. The structure and its envelope were designed to be fully demountable to allow de-assembly and transport to another European site after a period of 3-5 years.

To keep the structure as light as possible, we developed a tied dome roof for the clear 70m span of the theatre. The horizontal ties that remove the thrust forces from the dome were used to form a fully accessible ‘show deck’ for equipment such as lighting, PA’s, winches etc.

This 750-tonne domed roof, including the heavy timber acoustic roof panels and show equipment, was built at ground level within the wall frame structure and hoisted, using strand jacks, up to its finished level in a matter of hours. Atelier One were novated to ES Global for the post tender detailed design.

The process

The success of this project, with its extremely demanding requirements and tight timescale is a testament to the collective efforts and extremely close collaboration of the design and contractor teams. All aspects of installation and disassembly had to be carefully considered.

A great example of coordination is the staggered installation sequence. Working alongside the main contractor ES Global, we developed a construction methodology where the entirety of the roof structure, including the access deck, roof cladding, membrane, pelmet etc. was constructed at ground level to minimise working at height and to allow constructing the perimeter drum structure in parallel to save significant amount of time on-site. The ~750t roof assembly was then lifted using strand-jacks operated by Mammoet and secured in its final position in a matter of days.

Another great example is the design of the access deck. The ~2,400m2 show platform serves multiple purposes. It provides support for ~1000 winches required by the show team whilst also acting as a tie for the dome, integrating M&E equipment and providing ease of access over the entire area for maintenance.

The outcome

With over 1 million tickets sold, there is no doubt that the show itself delivers a novel, unique and immersive experience to its thrilled audience and has a lasting impact on the entertainment industry itself, steering it into a new direction. We believe that the design of the theatre actively contributes to this experience, seamlessly integrating with the show and fusing industrial brutalist architecture with Scandi raw exposed timber finish.

The Arena became a landmark for Pudding Mill Lane, attracting visitors from all over the world to a previously remote and isolated area, creating a dynamic and vibrant cultural scene.

Use of modular construction and prefabricated components on shallow foundations reduced the amount of waste and disruption associated with traditional construction methods. High acoustic performance of the roof and wall cladding systems ensure minimum disruption to the neighbourhood. Lastly, the design of the theatre ensures that the site will be restored to its original condition, unaffected by its present use.