Reebok Stadium, Bolton, UK

Bolton Wanderers Football Club decided recently to commission the construction of a new 25 000-seat stadium. In deciding to move from their previous, rather cramped, city centre location to a "green field" site, the opportunity was taken for the stadium to be part of a larger development that included extensive shopping and leisure facilities. The Club saw the move as an opportunity to present a more modern image and was particularly anxious for an eye-catching yet functional stadium. Architectural work had already identified a form for the roof to suit these requirements; the challenge was to convert this into reality.