Every August a temporary stadium is erected in front of Edinburgh Castle for the tattoo. This year, a new improved stadium has been designed and built. As well as providing improved access, comfort, sightlines and facilities, the new 8,600-seat stadium is designed to be quicker to erect and dismantle than the old stands. This reduces the disruption caused to the city by preparations for the event.
McAlpine worked with its specialist project partner Nussli Switzerland to come up with a design for the stadium that was built in just half the time required to construct the previous grandstands.
Located on the castle’s esplanade, the stadium is 75m wide, 110m long and 20m high, and incorporates an elevated VIP building with a roof terrace.
The venue’s steel structure is configured to accommodate a number of permanent monuments. The project also including the restoration and relocation of the esplanade’s Earl Haig and Scottish Horse monuments.
McAlpine’s contract to erect and dismantle the stadium runs to 2013.
With the castle open throughout the project, safe access was provided through the construction site for the thousands of visitors who visit the attraction every day.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo runs until August 27th, by when more than 200,000 people are expected to have watched it.
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