THE Dorset company which completed the conversion of the Millennium Dome into the O2 is working on the iconic structure again.

Medal decking and roofing specialist SMD Ltd is midway through its second extensive project on the Greenwich landmark.

SMD, which first worked on the site in 2006, is part of a major construction programme to complete the ring of retail outlets and entertainment venues surrounding the arena.

Project Mint – named from the similarity to a Polo mint –saw SMD working with client Bourne Steele of Poole throughout the contract, installing 11,400sqm of decking and 27,000 shear studs.

SMD operations manager Richard Brokenshire said: “For this demanding contract we had to overcome a number of challenging obstacles during design and site installation, which our site teams and management overcame.

“The quality of our work and adherence to strict safety protocols was such that Bourne Steel gave us a 98 per cent customer satisfaction score and presented us with an award for safety on site.”

SMD is currently working on a further linked phase of the development, Project Loop, with McLaren Construction Group, supplying and installing 7,700 sqm of decking and 25,700 shear studs.

SMD construction manager Phil Carr added: “It has been a logistically challenging project. We have had to keep noise levels down and factor in time away from site when concerts or sporting events are taking place.”

The multi-million-pound projects, due to be completed later this year, are set to transform the O2 Arena’s environs into a retail village underneath the fabric-covered structure.

Opened on January 1, 2000, the Millennium Dome – 52m high, 365m in diameter and supported by 100m steel masts – housed a year-long exhibition. It was taken over by Anschutz Entertainment Group and reopened in 2007 as a 20,000 capacity venue with naming rights sold to O2 PLC.

It has become one of the capital’s leading leisure complexes, hosting acts such as Led Zeppelin, Prince and the Spice Girls, the ATP World Tour tennis finals, world championship boxing and events for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

SMD, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, has also worked on the Shard and the Olympic Park in London, Wimbledon Centre Court, Manchester’s Etihad Stadium and Heathrow Airport.

The company, one of only a handful of British firms to design, manufacture and install its own steel decking systems, employs more than 100 staff across the UK, India and Dubai.