Name of fabricator: REIDsteel
Galvanized by: Joseph Ash Medway
Architect: Arete Architects
Contractor: FM Conway
End client: Maidstone United FC
Finish provided: Hot dip galvanizing and powder coating
Size and amount of steel: 100 metres of steel railings and gates
Project goals
Maidstone United FC needed to increase its seating capacity for fans at its home – the Gallagher Stadium – as it moved up the league charts. The club made the decision to build a new stand, and they turned to Arete Architects and REIDsteel for help with design and construction.
What happened
REIDsteel worked directly with Maidstone United FC to design, draw, fabricate and erect a new £850,000 structure at the Gallagher Stadium – including steelwork, cladding, 500m of handrails and disabled access ramps.
To protect their steel fabrications with a variety of metal finishing treatments, predominantly hot dip galvanizing, they called on the expert services of Joseph Ash Galvanizing’s Chesterfield plant.
Materials and size
The steel-framed standing terrace was built behind one of the goals. It consists of 11 double standing rows, formed with non-slip metal decking supported by a series of steel rakers. The stand has a 11m-wide cantilevering steel roof structure, which includes a 1m-high facia for advertising. It also includes 500m of handrails and disabled access ramps.
The structure includes 81 tonnes of steel, all fully hot dip galvanized by Joseph Ash Galvanizing.
Outcome
The new North Stand was successfully completed in March 2017 and was opened in front of a crowd of 2,929 people. The new stand provides the stadium with an extra 1768 seats for ticketholders.