McLaren Construction Midlands and North has installed the 125-tonne inverted ribbon truss on Wrexham AFC’s new Kop Stand at the Cae Ras.
The truss was delivered to site in five sections before being assembled and lifted into position using specialist lifting equipment and temporary support structures.
McLaren, the principal contractor, worked with structural steel specialist J&D Pierce Contracts on the logistical and engineering planning. The operation followed months of planning with specialist lifting contractors, independent checking engineers, and Network Rail.
The truss was supported by two purpose-designed temporary towers during installation while the surrounding permanent roof steelwork was completed. It will remain supported until the roof structure is fully connected, before being de-jacked into its final structural position in the next phase of the programme.
Gary Cramp, managing director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “The successful installation of the ribbon truss represents one of the most significant engineering achievements of the project to date. While supporters can clearly see the stand taking shape, what sits behind this milestone is months of detailed planning, engineering expertise and close collaboration across the entire project team.”
The steel package comprises more than 1,500 tonnes of steel, secured with more than 31,000 structural bolts, 16,000 fabricated fittings, and 500 holding-down bolts. The frame was designed to suit the constrained footprint of the new stand and a live city-centre site.
The main concourse steelwork, stair and lift cores are complete, with significant progress made on the upper concrete decks and precast terracing.
The package also includes the stand’s dolphin beams, which form the primary support for the upper terracing. They were fully fabricated and intumescent coated off-site before being transported to Wrexham for erection.
Elsewhere on the scheme, all upper floor slabs are complete. Blockwork to the ground floor lift shafts and MEP risers is advancing, along with early MEP first fix work to the internal floors. Further concrete pours will continue and installation of the precast terrace units is progressing.
Jamie Pierce, joint managing director at J&D Pierce, said: “The structural steel package showcases the scale and complexity of modern stadium engineering. From fabricating more than 1,500 tonnes of structural steel through to assembling and installing the 125-tonne ribbon truss, every element has been carefully planned, manufactured and erected to the highest standards.
“Successfully completing this lift is a testament to the expertise and collaboration of everyone involved, and we’re proud to be playing our part in creating what will become an iconic addition to the Cae Ras.”
The redevelopment remains on programme for completion ahead of the 2027/28 season. The new Kop stand will restore the Cae Ras to a four-sided stadium, increase capacity to more than 18,000, and deliver UEFA Category 4 compliance.
Michael Williamson, chief executive officer at Wrexham AFC, said: “The successful lift and installation of the steel truss is a landmark moment for the Club, not only in the construction of the new Kop stand itself but also for the wider Gateway Project. We are now looking forward to seeing the Kop stand continue to evolve and take shape over the coming months.”
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