Olympic legacy secured with Derby Arena curved steel columns

The first velodrome to be constructed in the wake of the 2012 Olympics saw the main steelwork contractor, Billington Structures, turn to metal bending specialists Barnshaws to supply the precision curved columns for the steel infrastructure of this legacy project.

The creation of the arena itself demanded large quantities of structural steelwork, with the building incorporating huge spans of up to 85m. This highly efficient and aesthetically pleasing structure therefore required large quantities of quality curved steel bars to ensure structural rigidity and facilitate the modern design.

Having garnered great experience in the demands of bent structural steelwork, Barnshaws were contracted to produce the integral support columns due to their extensive in-house facilities, short lead times and reputation for curving sections to the most stringent structural tolerances.

The Structural Steel Design Awards committee recognised that ‘with the selection of structural steel as the main construction material the building will stand the test of time, remaining aesthetically pleasing for generations to come.’

Greg North, Commercial Director at Barnshaws Section Benders, commented: “We are very pleased to see our work being recognised at such prestigious awards. It is interesting to see the construction industry as a whole utilising curved steel structural and aesthetic elements in modern building design.”

North continued: “From our experiences across multiple sectors producing curved metal products, there is definitely a shift occurring towards more aesthetically pleasing design in all aspects of infrastructure, which has been enabled by the advancements in metal bending expertise. As a company, it is very exciting to be helping to facilitate this revolution.”

Since its opening in March 2015 the arena has served to light up the surrounding area, offering locals and avid cyclists the chance to benefit from world class facilities. In conjunction with the first cycle track meeting in August 2015, the addition of a café, a dedicated gym and numerous studios for public use has made it an indispensable asset to the community.