University of York Multi Sports Facility

Rubb Buildings Ltd was selected to design, manufacture and construct a 40m wide x 55m long steel and fabric clad Sport Arena for the University of York.

The indoor multi sports facility features an apex height of 13.4m and an internal clear centre height of 11.9m. The Mansard, multi-pitch roof provides an internal volume of playing space at 20,600m3.

The sports building includes a central, premier standard, multi-sports court for recreational and performance level basketball, netball, badminton, futsal and volleyball.

The area can be divided into three sections with vertical partitians, which can each accommodate a basketball or volleyball court or up to four badminton courts. The facility can also be transformed to create a full show court for all sports including basketball, which will be supported by drop-down basketball nets and three scoreboards.

The 6.7m high sidewalls and end gables feature 80mm thick steel cladding, and Rubb’s Thermohall® insulated fabric membrane completes the roof of the facility.

Rubb’s brief was to provide a sports structures with a greater internal height clearance than an existing Rubb sports building. This would help the university achieve its aim of hosting more competitive sports events within the facility; with the main emphasis on badminton.

The new sports building also has an increased internal clear volume of 65% of the original Rubb temporary structure. The new facility incorporates many enhanced services and sporting equipment.

Gerfloor Taraflex™ Sport M sports flooring provides the highest level of performance, comfort and safety and 2.4m high rebound boards have been fitted to the full internal perimeter. The sports building also includes a storage room for sports equipment. One main glass panel entrance door, six double pedestrian doors and one 4m x 4m roller shutter door provide access and egress to the sports facility. A dividing partition has been constructed between the playing area and the viewing walkway. A high level, gas fired heating system and LED lighting system, both designed to Sport England specifications is installed in the sports facility.