Nou Mestalla’s Roof Takes Shape as Monster 4,800-Tonne Structure Begins Installation

Valencia’s long-awaited new stadium project has taken a significant step forward with the installation of massive exterior pillars that will support the colossal 4,800-tonne roof structure.

Towering pillars arrive from Galicia

Monday marked the beginning of a crucial phase in the Nou Mestalla construction as workers began installing the first of 50 steel pillars that will eventually support the stadium’s enormous roof. These aren’t your average garden variety supports either - we’re talking about absolute beasts standing 38 metres tall and weighing over 30 tonnes each.

The components have been arriving in recent weeks from the Horta Coslada plant in Arteixo, Galicia, and are now being placed on anchoring points that have been meticulously prepared over recent months.

This installation phase represents a proper milestone in the construction timeline, with Valencia CF confirming it’s all going according to the scheduled works plan. The club must be chuffed to bits seeing tangible progress after years of delays and false starts.

Technical specs that would make an engineer swoon

The pillars being installed aren’t just any old steel - they’re made from high-grade S355 steel and will form part of the stadium’s distinctive exterior façade. They feature rectangular closed sections of varying dimensions (1,200x760mm, 1,400x850mm, and 1,400x760mm) with reinforced base plates.

When completed, the roof will shelter all 70,044 planned seats and incorporate some proper forward-thinking features:

Photovoltaic installation
Solar panels
Intelligent management system

Experienced hands on deck

Valencia haven’t taken any chances with this crucial element of the build. They’ve brought in Galician firm Horta Coslada, who’ve got serious pedigree in stadium roof construction. Their portfolio includes some proper Bobby Dazzlers:

Santiago Bernabéu
Riyadh Air Metropolitano (Atlético’s gaff)
San Mamés
Stade Vélodrome
RCDE Stadium
Ciutat de València

They’ve also worked on the Azud de l’Or bridge in Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences, so they know their onions when it comes to ambitious structural engineering in the region.

This phase follows previous preparatory work including hydrodemolition, pile driving, and pillar reinforcement - all essential steps before the main roof structure can be mounted.

For Valencia fans who’ve waited through the stop-start saga of their new home, seeing these massive pillars going up must feel like Christmas has come early. The Nou Mestalla project finally appears to be making substantial progress toward completion.