UK Specification works on racecourse revamp

ASSA ABLOY UK Specification, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, has completed a full specification for Cheltenham Racecourse.

In partnership with Kier Construction and specialist sport and leisure architects, Roberts Limbrick Architects, the UK Specification team worked in close collaboration with the design and construction companies over the 19month delivery period, to produce an unrivalled redevelopment of the iconic racecourse.

Part of a £45million redevelopment of the racing landmark racecourse, known as The Home of Jump Racing, the final stage - The Princess Royal, a five and half storey grandstand – was officially opened by Her Royal Highness at the start of this year’s Open.

The schedule of works, which aside from the grandstand centrepiece, included a refurbished weighing room, a new first aid room and the new crescent walkway giving race-goers improved access to the parade ring. As the largest development of its kind, The Jockey Club has praised the partnership between contractors, architects and suppliers whose seamless collaboration enabled a full race programme to continue during the redevelopment.

UK Specification supplied steel external and security doors, as well as internal timber security doors to ensure safe but unhindered access and flow around the busy racecourse.

David Shields, Specification Development Manager at ASSA ABLOY UK, said: “Cheltenham Racecourse is an iconic venue and investment of this kind is unprecedented in the racing world, so this was a critical project for the team. Kier Construction and Robert Limbricks Architects have a wealth of experience in delivering projects of this nature but this was still a testing venture to work on, as a full racing calendar had to be achieved during the works, making logistics and collaboration across all parties crucial.

“The phased redevelopment has required the team to think carefully about how the building is used and how our doorsets and scheduling can support and enhance this. The project specification, which ranges from VIP and Royal boxes to public and service areas also needed to take into consideration the different design requirements and the atmosphere that needed to be cultivated. The UK Specification team take a design-led approach so we were able to supply internal and external security doors that were appropriate in style and purpose for the individual areas.

“Our simplified approach to specification, means we’re able to assist architects and design-led contractors in all areas of the development but particularly the areas that they can find burdensome, such as scheduling, which often requires in depth levels of expertise to get right. In addition, the data we were able to provide can assist with whole life costing and certifying the sustainability credentials of a building, as well as the on-going management.”