Case Studies
Stamford AFC, New Sports Hall
Image Credit: R G Carter
Appointed in late 2013 by R G Carter as a previous engineer could not commit to the project’s requirements and tight programme, Rolton Group’s civil and structural engineers were tasked with providing engineering design services to support the construction of a new sports hall, fitness suite and associated changing and hospitality rooms, along with a full-size football pitch and three-pitch MUGA to FA standards.
Rolton Group’s civil engineers were responsible for the design and details of foul and surface water drainage for the site. Careful consideration was given to finding the best drainage solutions for such an isolated site, and due to the site’s remote nature, a small foul sewer treatment plant was created which discharged foul water post-treatment into a swale. A surface water strategy featuring a balancing pond with soakaways was also developed and implemented.
The overall design of (and associated details, drawings and reports for) the arrangement of the new sports hall’s steelwork frame, mass pad foundations, ground bearing slab (including joint layout and construction details) and plans for external private levels and surfacing were the responsibility of Rolton Group’s structural engineering team. Technical drawings and plans for the steelwork structure were delivered with a high enough level of detail to ensure that the steel fabricator could produce his working drawings and connection design without delay. Close co-ordination with the architect, MEP consultant and specialist suppliers throughout ensured the smooth running of this project to meet the timescale and budget requirements of the scheme.
Rolton Group’s structural engineers also provided design and details for the masonry elements of the build, including typical masonry tie details. Alternative construction methods including Glulam beam etc. were discussed in order to help the project team consider all options to find the best solution for this project’s requirements, providing comments and open liaison with the architect throughout to ensure a cohesive design.
Dean P Hall, Construction Director for R G Carter said:
"We have been very pleased with the civil and structural engineering services Rolton Group have provided us with, finding them to be cost-effective, proactive and of very high quality.
When a previously novated and appointed structural engineer was unable to commit to the required design programme for a project involving the development of a new sports hall and associated facilities for Stamford AFC, Rolton Group seamlessly stepped up to continue the necessary design work and took the project forward to completion. Rolton Group made every effort to really get to know the project and the site and their experienced team worked very well with the wider project team, providing swift responses to our needs and modeling their structural designs in Revit to ensure that all elements of the overall design could come together in a timely manner.
The isolated nature of the Stamford AFC site presented some challenges (especially with regards to appropriate drainage solutions), however, Rolton Group’s engineers put forward excellent bespoke solutions to meet all of our requirements, ensuring that both this and the structural design elements were completed to schedule and within budget. We were also very pleased that the engineering solutions implemented carefully considered environmental impacts, resulting in a completed facility that is both commercially viable and environmentally responsible.
The expert advice, solutions and engineering designs that Rolton Group delivered were reliable, thoughtful and technically proficient. We felt that our engineering needs were in very safe hands with Rolton Group and look forward to collaborating again in the near future."