Jamestown Steel at Leicester Tigers
A very demanding construction schedule, and a design calling for long cellular beams fabricated to tight tolerances, placed additional pressures on Jamestown’s contribution to work at this large sports stadium.
A Challenge; Delivering Long Stadium Roof Beams
Working with Leicester architectural and structural steel fabrication company MQM, Jamestown supplied cellular beams for the construction of the six-thousand-seater West Stand, now known as the Robin Hood Stand. Some of the beams were 20 metres long, and needed to be constructed to very tight tolerances. Additionally, Jamestown had to adapt to ongoing modifications to the design, and to abide by a rigid delivery timeline.
Improving on the Design
The design for the roof originally specified ribbon-cut universal beams, but Jamestown were able to improve on this plan by offering plate girders as an alternative, thereby saving on cost and ensuring a better delivery schedule. The steel used was S355J2+N and S355K2+N.
A Tight Time-Scale
The construction schedule for the new stand was planned to fit into the club’s off-season, so there was little room for delays. Jamestown’s contribution to the project was completed within their 2.5-month deadline.
Welford Road
Home to premier rugby union side Leicester Tigers since 1892, the Welford Road stadium has a capacity of over 25,000, and is the biggest purpose-built Rugby Union club ground in the United Kingdom. The Robin Hood Stand incorporates club offices and a luxurious members’ lounge. The stand has a distinctive sloping roof, necessitated by the footprint of the site.
Workmanship of the Highest Order
Guri Dosku, Technical Manager of MQM Ltd, commented: “Jamestown’s worked extremely well with the designers and met the tight deadlines imposed on them. Workmanship was of the highest order”
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