Overview

Handspring Design created a shelter for athletes at the training arena at the new and refurbished Alexandria Stadium in Birmingham, which is due to host the Commonwealth Games in the summer of 2022.

The shelter is constructed from Douglas Fir and steel, with a wildflower green roof.

Bespoke design

The concept for this shelter design was based on one of Handspring's youth shelters. However, it was considerably extended in length, a curve added to the roof, and the legs pushed apart just at the ends, by the Landscape Architect from ARUP. This represented quite a shift in the design, so Handspring had to rethink the structure and consider it more like a bridge with rolled steel angles for the roof frame, timber joists spanning between these and timber ceiling boards supporting the green roof. Once Handspring decided on its approach, its engineer specified the sizes and thicknesses of steel plate, fixings and timbers required. The four W leg frames were pre-made and the roof constructed in two sections, complete with turf, at its workshop and all sent on a lorry to site.

Installation

Using a 360 machine Handspring stood up one pair of legs, lowered the half roof on top, and bolted it together, then repeated the process for the other half and shuffled them together to meet and be bolted at the apex. As this was a new design which had never been put together, there were quite a few challenges in lining up the legs with bolt holes in the roof structure. As a result Handspring decided to increase the hole sizes in the steel leg top plates as the tolerances were too tight. Once done, it fitted together perfectly.

Project credits

Matt Davis from ARUP
Martin Evans Engineers
Somerscales Timber
Wayne and Steve Tyree Fabrications
Humber Galvanising
Rollmaster Rings
Askey Transport
Lindum Turf (wildflower roof)
S G Civils