Everton FC 26/03/2024 9comments  |  Jump to last

A stunning design feature is set to make a splash on the former dock that has been transformed into Everton Stadium.

Skilled craftsmen from Vetter, a specialist stone contactor and part of the Laing O’Rourke group of companies, have been painstakingly paving the 30,000m sq fan plaza that will serve as the spacious entrance to the stadium footprint.

However, the historic dock walls will remain exposed as a feature of the plaza and a geographical nod to the rich heritage of the site.

And within these dock walls, contrasting paved stone that contains blue glass will be laid to mirror the reflection of water glistening on the surface.

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Laing O’Rourke Project Director, Gareth Jacques, said: “It was always the plan to have the dock wall exposed and the area inside these walls will be laid with blue glass Kellen blocks.

“There are three different types of block, with different quantities of blue glass included as part of the manufacturing process. The design intent is that they appear like shimmering water, when the light shines on them.”

Work has begun on the second phase, which will be the culmination of a year-long programme to granite pave the expansive plaza, which will be able to accommodate thousands of Evertonians on matchday and can also play host to non-matchday events and concerts.

The fan plaza is also interspersed with heritage items from the dock’s heyday, such as historic railway tracks, capstans, mooring bollards and cobblestones that were a feature when Liverpool’s Docks dominated global trade.

Jacques added: “The reason we had a 52-week plan for the paving and hard landscaping was to enable us to develop the most effective sequence for all the other external works activities happening at the same time. This programme ensures that we have as little traffic as possible on top of the finished product.

“We have finished the south half of the fan plaza, with the railway lines installed. Our specialist restorations team are also currently infilling the random granite stone around the pedestrian gates, which will blend in perfectly to the Grade II Listed wall once complete.

“When the whole fan plaza and restoration works are finished, I think the fans will have a truly unique and special entrance experience which complements this magnificent stadium.”

The blue stones as shown in place in a new CGI representation of the Fan Plaza

 

Reader Comments (9)

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Mike Hayes
1 Posted 26/03/2024 at 16:46:38
It looks like this stadium is going to be THE bees knees and the envy of the footballing world BUT for the minute I've little interest with what's going on within Everton - lack of any information from our elusive owner uncertain future, the 777 mess and pending second charge. Had we been sorted maybe something to get over excited about but I'm sure it'll all come out in the wash 🤷💙
Mark Murphy
2 Posted 26/03/2024 at 18:00:51
Railway lines??
Tony Abrahams
3 Posted 26/03/2024 at 19:12:46
Opening up some more entrances is going to be so necessary if they are keeping a lot of the perimeter walls because they are a listed building.

Absolutely necessary because, with nearly 53.000 people all coming into the same area when leaving the stadium, it's going to be very tight if they don't make more exits going north and south.

Bill Gall
4 Posted 26/03/2024 at 19:25:05
I wonder if they managed to get hold of any of the old Overhead Railway stock to put on the railway lines they are laying/ would be a nice touch.
Mark Murphy
5 Posted 26/03/2024 at 19:42:15
Sorry but are the railway lines practical or just for decor??
Mike Doyle
6 Posted 26/03/2024 at 19:43:33
Bill #4] great idea. I hope they do that.
Danny O’Neill
7 Posted 26/03/2024 at 19:47:07
Repeat warning.

Monorail from Brunswick to Sandhills with stops on the way including the Everton Stadium.

A modern version of the Docker's Umbrella.

Brent Stephens
8 Posted 26/03/2024 at 22:46:46
Danny, monorail would be good. But Sandhills to Bramley-Moore Dock is only a 10-minute very brisk walk, 12 minutes comfortable; so by the time you walked to the monorail station and queued...
Danny O’Neill
9 Posted 27/03/2024 at 22:19:10
Brent,

When we went to the Bramley Moore pub after the match a season or two back, I got chinned off by a taxi driver so had to roll back the years and run to Lime Street.

I got on the last train to Euston with two minutes to spare. Talk about dipping for the line!!

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