Dan Collinson on supplying a flexible,
multi-sports hub for Hampshire school

Dan Collinson, managing director of Collinson

Sports facility specialist Collinson has supplied St Neots Preparatory School in Hampshire, UK, with a new sports hall. It was designed using Collinson’s Challenger, an adaptable building system made from a tensile steel frame covered in a heavy duty architectural membrane.

The Challenger was connected to Collinson’s Evolution structure to create a large sports hub, featuring a swimming pool, showers and changing rooms, a reception area and storage space.

The hall accommodates five badminton courts and was designed to meet Sport England specifications. It also incorporates a full-sized tennis court, five mini tennis courts and features netball, basketball and indoor cricket nets.

The courts are designed to provide flexibility and can be divided into a two/three court orientation, allowing for separate sports to take place in their own areas at the same time. The hall also has a viewing gallery, offering spectators a bird’s eye view of the hall.

Dan Collinson, Collinson’s managing director, says: “St Neots is an excellent example of how versatile our building system is. The design has been configured to incorporate different structure types, optimising the benefits of each, which are then seamlessly linked to create a sports hub.”

Sport-kit keyword: COLLINSON

“St Neots is an excellent example of how versatile our building system is. The design has been configured to incorporate different structure types, optimising the benefits of each, which are then seamlessly linked to create a sports hub.”

The new sports hub houses a swimming pool and badminton and tennis courts

CopriSystems’ Rafe Colenso on tennis club revamp that’s boosting membership

Rafe Colenso, director of CopriSystems

Peterborough Town Tennis Club (PTTC) has invested nearly half a million pounds in its facilities. The investment includes two new covered courts housed in a CopriSystems framed fabric structure.

Previously PTTC had two separate sites. However, it was a long-term objective to sell one site in order to improve the other.

CopriSystems utilised the fabric frame from the now closed site to create the new covered courts. The fabric frames are made from hot-dipped galvanised tensile steel. The dome frames are covered in PVC-coated polyester fabric that is self-extinguishing and resistant to UV damage. This material is stretched over the frame to create a seamless roof that is designed to last for more than 20 years.

Since its completion, the covered court has given PTTC a renewed popularity, with membership increasing by a reported 600 per cent, and further plans to extend the club.

Rafe Colenso, director of CopriSystems, says: “It was great to be able to reuse a sports dome that was just going to be demolished and effectively sent for scrap, but also to revitalise a structure. It’s given a whole new lease of life to the club.”

Sport-kit keyword: COPRISYSTEMS

“It was great to be able to reuse a sports dome that was just going to be demolished and effectively sent for scrap, but also to revitalise a structure. It’s given a whole new lease of life to the club.”

The two courts are covered by a framed fabric structure

April Trasler of Neptunus on creating
a sports hall for the Dutch Judo Association

April Trasler, managing director of Neptunus

International temporary structure specialist Neptunus has created a bespoke sports hall for the Dutch Judo Association at the National Sports Centre Papendal in the Netherlands. The facility, named Ruskahal after Holland’s two-time Olympic Champion Willem ‘Wim’ Ruska, opened in March 2017 and took just 12 weeks to complete.

Using its Flexolution semi-permanent building system, Neptunus created a state-of-the-art judo hall featuring a dojo (a formal martial arts training space), a grandstand, medical facilities, changing rooms, showers, toilets and office spaces.

Flexolution is a modular building system that has the appearance of a permanent structure but can be dismantled and reused, making it completely flexible and sustainable. It’s designed to meet the same stringent energy and environmental requirements as that of a permanent building, and can be operational for up to 20 years.

“Our semi-permanent sports halls can be built quickly and efficiently,” says Neptunus managing director April Trasler. “They offer cost-effective space solutions for a wide variety of sports and they are demountable, so they can be taken down and reassembled at a new location if required.”

Sport-kit keyword: NEPTUNUS

“They offer cost-effective space solutions for a wide variety of sports and they are demountable, so they can be taken down and reassembled at a new location if required.”

The judo sports hall structure could be dismantled and reused