Co-op Live Arena
Project at a glance
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SectorSport, Leisure & Hospitality
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LocationNorth West
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ClientOak View Group (OVG)
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Main ContractorBAM
Delivering sustainable innovation for the UK’s largest indoor arena
SES Engineering Services successfully delivered the £50 million MEP package for Co-op Live Arena, the UK’s largest indoor music venue, located on Manchester’s Etihad Campus. Developed by Oak View Group in partnership with BAM, this 23,500-seat arena combines world-class entertainment with cutting-edge sustainability.
Sustainability was central to the Arena’s design, aligning with Manchester City Council’s goal of becoming a net-zero carbon city by 2038. We contributed by implementing smart, energy-efficient technologies for heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, ensuring energy use is minimised in unoccupied areas, as well as utilising our award-winning offsite manufacturing capability.
Utilising our in-house innovation expertise
We employed offsite manufacturing to streamline the installation of mechanical and electrical systems, including six mechanical risers, two electrical risers, and 350 multi-service 2D and 3D modules. This approach improved safety, reduced on-site labour, and accelerated installation. The prefabricated risers and modules, manufactured in our in-house facility, were fully coordinated, and delivered ahead of schedule, saving three months on installation timings.
Additionally, and to enhance the venue’s connectivity, our in-house ‘smart buildings’ team designed an ICT system to provide full network coverage for spectators and building systems. The network was operational months ahead of schedule, consolidating essential services like BMS, lighting, and CCTV, while reducing costs.
Our commitment to social value was at the forefront of the project, we engaged with the local community and provided 15 students with work experience placements on site and employed 60 apprentices, both directly and through our supply chain. A further 2,000 students – from primary school to university level – were engaged with via multiple educational activities.
The Co-op Live Arena exemplifies our ability to reimagine places where people can thrive. From delivering industry-leading sustainable infrastructure to driving local community engagement, our technical innovation, focus on safety, and social impact resulted in a world-class venue, leaving a legacy of excellence for and upon our employees, the supply chain, Manchester and local communities, as well as the UK entertainment sector.
