Ascot Portfolio

THE CHALLENGES

The re-development of Ascot Racecourse has brought a fantastic facility to the racing world. Good eco-credentials and improved safety features are among its most noted improvements.

The high profile re-development, set the design and construction teams an exceptionally tight target and timescale to achieve. Although early discussions over the previous two years had shaped the fire engineering design, the complete demolition, construction and fitting out of the new grandstand had to be completed within 19 months from the initial demolition works, which begun in Oct 2004 to its completion in time for the running of its first event in May 2006. This allowed for all operational fire and life safety systems to be tested in readiness for the Royal Ascot event in June 2006, when 80000 plus race goers would attend.

There were other concurrent works which were undertaken on other buildings within the site, these included the refurbishment of a number of listed buildings to provide enhanced corporate dining and reception facilities, the re-siting of the Queen's Stables and saddling enclosures, and the construction of a large temporary village comprised of three storey restaurants, bar areas and viewing facilities. These temporary buildings provide all of the facilities, which are required to handle large numbers of people safely, effectively and enjoyably, giving them the best racing experience possible. These were also undertaken and completed within the same time frame.

Effective partnership working between RBWM Building Control Consultancy, both the design and construction teams and most importantly the client, Ascot Authority, were critical to the project's completion date being achieved. It required continual dialogue over a four-year period from the development of the agreed approach to the initial fire, structural and environmental engineering designs to completion on site.

Ascot Authority facilitated Building Control Consultancy with the resources to provide a permanent on-site presence throughout the project, this included out of hours attendance particularly for the huge task of commissioning the fire and life safety systems. Failure to meet either of the two target dates of May and June 2006 would have resulted in a financial and operational disaster for Ascot Authority, as Royal Ascot 2006 would not be able to take place. Operational arrangements must be in place 6 months before a significant and internationally renowned event can be held; these could not be re-scheduled to another venue at such short notice. The only alternative option would have resulted in the cancellation of the event.

THE COMPLETED PROJECT

The Ascot Racecourse project was successfully completed on target and in time for Royal Ascot in June 2006. This achievement was recognised by being short listed for three national building awards in the Local Authority Building Control Built In Quality Awards 2007. On the night it was a fantastic result to win two awards, for Best Partnership With A Client and Best Fire Engineering Design.

The judges were highly impressed by the partnership, which they described as a "key factor" in the delivery of the project. They said "This demonstrates LABC can successfully tackle big and complex projects as well as small domestic projects". Equally the fire engineered design ensured the fire safety of race goers were maintained; by a combination of smoke management systems, automatic sprinklers, compartmentalisation of high risk areas and automatic detection and alarm systems.

Our gallery shows some of the main features of the project.