The New Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: the value of engineering

Abstract

The new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the realisation of an ambitious vision for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, made possible by the response of the project team to the challenges this vision presented. Key to this has been the engineering innovation, particularly the contribution of structural engineering. From sliding a 68m × 105m grass pitch under 17 500 people while controlling structural dynamics, to eliminating 40% of the columns to provide open concourses and hospitality spaces, structural engineering has played a key part in delivering what is arguably now the best football-focused, multi-use stadium in Europe. This article provides an insight into the design process for the project and the key challenges faced, while considering the contribution made to the ongoing evolution of stadium design. Limited technical detail is given, with the main purpose of the article being to tell the engineering story and explore the value that engineering has delivered to the project.