Derby Multi-Sports Arena

The new Derby Multi-Sports Arena, constructed by Bowmer and Kirkland, will be an iconic sports and leisure venue, and the first Olympic legacy projects after the London-hosted games.

Funded by Derby City Council and Sport England, the 14,500 square metre arena is being built next to Derby County Football Club’s Pride Park Stadium. It will include a 250m indoor cycling track, wellbeing and fitness facilities, and a 1.5km outdoor closed cycle circuit. It will also accommodate concerts, exhibitions, conferences and other events, making the new venue a significant addition to the city.

Derbyshire-based Bowmer and Kirkland were extremely proud to win the local contract and Billington Structures supplied and installed the structural steelwork as well as precast stairs, terracing and hollowcore floors. A large portion of the building is being manufactured offsite and then transported and installed to keep the programme on schedule.

Architects, FaulknerBrowns, have designed the Derby Multi-Sports Arena to be an iconic building, and its futurist diamond shape and windows make it a unique structure. Billington Structures also installed the roof trusses, which span across the main velodrome and sports hall are 84 metres long and 5 metres deep. These are pre-cambered and form the framework onto which the standing seam roof – rolled on site with the longest section measuring 114 metres – is fastened.

The new arena will have a low impact on the environment with a combined heat and power plant to generate electricity on site, as well as provide heating and hot water. It is targetting a BREEAM rating of Very Good and the durable cladding system has been designed to minimise materials and waste generation as much as possible. There is also a comprehensive management plan to minimise the environmental impact of the new arena on the adjacent nature reserve and River Trent.