THE country’s iconic national football stadium Lawson Tama is taking a step closer towards its planned facelift ahead of the 2023 Pacific Games.
This happened after Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) successfully signed a contract deal worth $3.8million with leading architectural and engineering firm Kramer Ausenco, a statement issued by SIFF Media said, Monday.
“The deal will ensure the stadium will undergo major development in terms of the design for the stadium’s upgrade project,” the statement said.
Kramer Ausenco was selected following a regional tender consisting of four (4) bidders ranging from Australia, Papua New Guinea, and locally which was concluded February.
The assessments are done by an independent committee appointed by SIFF to manage the project placed Kramer Ausenco as the top choice firm.
“The contract valued at SBD$3,836,936.00 will see Kramer Ausenco design a 6000-8000 capacity stadium in two phases.
“The first phase shall consist of the first stand, dressing rooms, and the playing pitch plus supporting fixtures. The second phase of the design incorporates the second stand,” the statement said.
Following the completion of the designs for phase one, a tender will be run for the contractor later this year.
The construction, similar to the designs, will also be executed in stages with phase one likely to start in 2021 and the second stage thereafter.
FIFA is providing USD$277,679.00 (SBD$2,304,390.04) towards the design phase of the project and following the successful completion of the design shall contribute another further USD$4 million towards the project.
SIFF acknowledges the funding from FIFA and the partnership with the Solomon Islands Government and Honiara City Council (HCC) with regards to the Lawson Tama upgrade project.
SIFF President, William Lai in his remarks thanked FIFA and other stakeholders who continue to work hard behind the scene to see the project up and running.
“Today we are here to sign the contract but this project has gone through tough times up to this day,” he said.
“I want to thank FIFA president and FIFA officials in the region for supporting us with this project.
“Also I would like to acknowledge the national government and Honiara City Council for their inputs as this signing is just a starting point for the upgrade of Lawson Tama,” he said.
Kramer Ausenco Country Manager Daniel Taka said they are happy to get the project after a lengthy bidding process.
“It’s been a long negotiation process but we are happy to receive this project,” he said.
“We are grateful to SIFF, Kramer Ausenco since we’ve been operating here for a while and we feel that we have the best knowledge of the ground.
“We are looking forward to delivering this project especially we understand the impact it has on sports in the Solomon Islands and it will be a landmark project for the institution SIFF.”
Taka stressed that work on the design will start soon as Kramer Ausenco is eager to deliver a higher standard design for the Lawson Tama project.
