New arena for Hanover 96
Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau and Wayss & Freytag Schlüsselfertigbau are to start work next month on the renovation of Hanover's Lower Saxony Stadium. The existing Hanover 96 Stadium will be largely demolished and rebuilt. The contract is worth €63.5 million. The project is scheduled for completion early in 2005.
The new stadium, designed by the German firm of architects Schulitz + Partners, will have a capacity of more than 49,000 spectators. The HBG Bouw en Vastgoed Special Projects Department is responsible for coordinating the design and engineering. Special Projects also has an advisory role with regard to the project financing. As was the case with the Baltic Stadium [Ostseestadion] in Rostock, which was also rebuilt by Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau, the stands will be demolished and rebuilt in phases. The existing athletics track in the stadium will also be removed to make room for the new stands. Only the western stand will be retained. The stadium will continue to be used during the reconstruction, but at a reduced capacity of not more than 25,000 spectators. As soon as all the stands have been replaced, in 2004, work will start on a single, suspended, partially translucent roof covering them.