VerTech Ultra stages for the Adele 25 tour are the first event industry design to win at the IStructE Structural Awards
UK - The stages used for Adele’s 2017 stadium tour in the round became the first events industry designs to win a coveted Structural Award.
Designed by OPS Structures for Star Events, the VerTech Ultra stages claimed the Best Small Projects (of between £1-3m) gong at the annual Structural Awards organised by the Institution of Structural Engineers. The stages were developed, built, tested and shipped to Australia in just four months and suspended 90t of production equipment at 25m above the ground. The judges praised the structures’ design, which allowed easy transportation and erection, minimised work at height and enabled unobstructed views by negating traditional bracing.
A spokesperson for the judges said: “The Adele 25 Stage engineering took account of the vast constraints and design drivers to produce a safe, efficient, elegant and reusable structure. The adaptability in its design allows it to be used in different countries, taking account of change in environments, multiple design code requirements and variable foundation and support conditions. It is also designed to be easily transportable and reusable, and easy and fast to construct, which allows for repeat use and therefore minimises costs.”
Roger Barrett, Star Events’ special projects director, comments: “It is a brilliant achievement for the whole Star team in conjunction with our structural engineers, OPS Structures, to have our temporary structure engineering recognised, on a truly global level, by a team of eminent judges who have no connection with the events industry.”
Now in its 50th year, the Structural Awards continue to recognise exemplary engineering, creativity and innovation globally.
(Jim Evans)

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