Neptunus build their largest sports hall in the UK for University of Westminster
The origins of the University of Westminster (UOW) date back to 1838 when it was the first polytechnic college to open in London, and one of the first in the UK, dedicated to offering education to the working people of the capital. In 1992 the then Polytechnic of London was granted university status and UOW was created.
Harrow is UOW’s campus that focuses on culture, arts, fashion, design, TV, film, music, media and communications but is also home to the university’s basketball, netball and volleyball teams. The university required a new sports hall to meet the fast-growing needs of their various clubs and also to provide facilities for ‘Dragons Active’, the Student Union’s dynamic programme of social sport, physical activities and fitness classes which are open to all of UOW’s students.
UOW initially approached Neptunus because of the company’s renowned reputation for designing and manufacturing temporary and permanent buildings for a wide range of educational requirements. Specialist Main Contractor, ACS Professionals in Construction, were appointed as the lead contractor to manage the overall project with Fusion acting as the University’s project manager.
The Solution
Neptunus technicians designed a bespoke sports hall alongside a state-of-the-art strength & conditioning gymnasium using a 27m clear span Flexolution structure. It is the largest sports hall Neptunus has built in the UK, though the company has erected 30m clear span Flexolution structures elsewhere in Europe.
For the UOW project, Neptunus also gave specialist support and advice for structural capabilities and the load bearing capacity of the building. The structure was designed and engineered to accommodate different leg heights for the sports hall and ancillary areas, whilst maintaining the flow of a single building.
The new sports hall, measuring over 1500 square metres, took just six weeks to construct by an eight strong build crew from Neptunus and a project manager. Divided into two, the main sports hall, which also accommodates badminton, covers 1,000 square metres with a clear height of 8 metres, while the adjoining space of 550 sqm with a clear height of 3 metres includes a gymnasium, changing rooms, showers, toilets, storage rooms and a lobby with reception area and office.
The main sports hall, christened ‘Dragon’s Den’, also has a 180-capacity spectator seating which is essential for Westminster Dragon’s Basketball team, one of the top sides in the London Metropolitan Basketball League, who share the facility with Westminster Griffin’s Volleyball Team and Westminster Women’s Netball Team. The facility, which has been purchased by the university, officially opened in 2024.
The Challenges
The Flexolution build required 12 x 27m beams to be transported to the Harrow campus from Neptunus’ factory in Germany using escorted extended trailers. This critical element of the process needed meticulous planning with the enormous beams delivered to site over two nights on four low loader trailers. Due to the challenging access onto site, street furniture and adaptions had to be made in preparation for the deliveries which were accomplished with military-style precision.
As a result of the type of subfloor installed and its weight load capacity along with the restrictive space available on site, Neptunus technicians adapted standard installation methods to build from the outside in. The logistics team also sourced specialist plant needed for the complex project, demonstrating Neptunus’ ability to swiftly and efficiently build structures, no matter how challenging the location.
The Verdict
The facility, described as a ‘new home for the Dragons of the University of Westminster’, is available to all students and colleagues to use and will provide space for Westminster Dragons sports teams to further grow and flourish, say UOW.
Developing the new space is part of the University’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing of students and colleagues. The university says that student engagement in its sports clubs and societies has grown dramatically, particularly over the last year, with more than 10,000 members now active.
Ben McDonald, Sports Operations Coordinator at the University of Westminster Students’ Union, said: “This new, one of its kind, state of the art sport facility will take sport at Westminster to a whole new level. Not only for our sports clubs and athletes on the elite athlete programme, but also the wider participation sport programme for all students. The University of Westminster Students’ Union and the University of Westminster can’t wait to welcome everyone to our new space.”
