Architects Arup Associates and engineer Arup used cladding supplier Eternit Building Materials' aluminium composite material (ACM) to clad the external walls of nine metallic pods that form the hospitality lounge and service areas on the south side of the City of Manchester Stadium.

Arup wanted to maximise the continuous floor space viewing onto the 38,000-seat arena but had to contend with the roof that swoops low to the north and south. Consequently the service zones - such as the hospitality lounge, kitchens and toilets - have been designed as pods to slot in between the V-shaped vertical supports of the roof.

Eternit's ACM panels are coated with a Kynar 500 finish that features excellent weather resistant properties including UV characteristics that give a colour stability guarantee of ten years. Details: email: [email protected]