This will be one of the most futuristic stadiums in Russia, rightly nicknamed Cosmos Arena. Yesterday the mounting of first 134-ton roof segment ended.

Yesterday saw the final stage of a symbolic operation. The first girder of future dome over Samara Arena was mounted into place. Or, should we say, half a girder, because the inner part is yet to come.

Apart from its symbolic value, the project of ‘girder #1’ was extremely challenging. Assembly of the 134-ton segment took roughly 2 months and several more are now being prepared around the stadium’s perimeter.

Each of them will be lifted into place using a 60-ton crawler crane, which took 10 days to put together on site. Since the machine lifted its first load into air, it took three days to finish installation above the stadium’s future promenade.

Second segment will be lifted next week. Overall the roof structure won’t be finalised until 2017, when it will create a massive dome, 60-meters tall. Initial plans spoke of even 80 meters, but it was later optimized economically to better suit demand and capabilities.