Heat is on cool new venue

06 December 2012

Pipe Center has supplied high efficiency heating equipment worth nearly £500,000 for the Leeds Arena, set to become one of the most innovative cultural venues in Europe when it opens next year.

Due for completion in early 2013, the world class facility will have capacity for 13,500 people and host major events, such as pop and rock concerts, sporting fixtures, ice shows and family entertainment.

Building services systems are being installed by contractor Rotary Yorkshire, on behalf of main contractor BAM Construction.

Leeds Arena will be the first purpose-built fan-shaped arena in the UK. While traditional venues have four sides of seating around a central pitch, Leeds Arena will have one large super-theatre seating bowl that fans out from the stage. This design offers every spectator a perfect view of centre stage regardless of the seat location. Pipe Center has supplied a wide range of equipment for the project from leading manufacturers such as Grundfos and Stelrad, including pumps, booster sets, heating cylinders, calorifiers, buffer vessels and radiators.

Blyth Davies, project engineer for Rotary Yorkshire, said: “We have received excellent support from Pipe Center on the project. All equipment and components have arrived on time when needed, and we have worked closely with them on value engineering aspects of the project - to meet budget and specification.”

Richard Rhodes, Pipe Center’s Business Development Manager for Yorkshire, said: “It is an impressive project and a major new facility, and significant not just for the region but the UK as a whole. We have worked closely with Blyth Davies and the Rotary Yorkshire team to deliver on time and budget.”

The exterior of the arena has a striking honeycomb design that will act as a gateway to Leeds city centre. The front of the building will use state-of-the-art lighting to change colour or pattern, according to the show or mood required at the time.