Derby Multi-Sports Arena

The Derby Multi-Sports Arena is an Olympic legacy project following on from the 2012 games that were held in London. The arena is an ambitious project and will include a 250 metre velodrome track as well as infield sports facilities. The three storey building will include a main sports hall, with room for 12 badminton courts, as well as fitness studios and offices on the second floor. Derby had already been chosen as a Cycling Demonstration Town, one of six outside of London, which was tasked with encouraging more people into cycling and physical exercise.

The new arena was funded by Derby City Council and Sports England. This project is part of the council’s plans to invest in leisure facilities in the city. It will be located next to Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium and the velodrome is attracting a lot of attention from cyclists in the area.

During the construction process, the main contractor, Bowmer and Kirkland, hosted hundreds of university students and construction apprentices, as well as Sir David Brailsford, a Derbyshire-born cyclist.

The structural steelwork was supplied by Billington Structures for the iconic complex steel structure. The steelwork for the arena had to span the full width of the building with no internal supports. Billington is also installing precast stairs, terracing and hollowcore floors. The building design required a number of spaces on one side, so the main area has trusses spanning 90 metres in length which support the perimeter. The trusses were designed with a splice joint which took them into two and sometimes three sections enabling them to be safely transported and erected.

The design of the building allows for sporting and community events to take place on the infield, while the velodrome track is in operation. The space can also accommodate concerts with up to 5,000 seats and exhibitions, conferences and other events, making it a multi-purpose space and an important addition to the city.