Pitch perfect installation at university’s outdoor multi-sports facility

Kier has completed the installation of two new 3G pitches to FIFA and World Cup Rugby standards at Sheffield Hallam University.

Kier was appointed in 2023 to replace two existing 3G pitch surfaces at Sheffield Hallam’s Sports Park in Tinsley, one of the largest outdoor multi-sports facilities in Yorkshire.

The Sports Park is home to many of the university’s sports teams and is used by thousands of students and professional and recreational sportspeople every year.

The £1.2m project was delivered by Kier Places, which delivers residential, workplace and building solutions across the UK.

Works also included the installation of rugby/American football posts as well as dugouts complete with seating and equipment storage areas, while spectators will benefit from additional space created by extended perimeter footpaths.

As well as Sheffield Hallam’s sports teams, the pitches and facilities are used by local community sports teams.

These include Sheffield United Women’s Football Club, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club’s academy, Rotherham United Football Club’s academy, England under 18s Women’s Rugby Union, and the FA Women’s High Performance Goalkeeping Centres of Excellence, as well as many local junior sports clubs.

The project was procured through the SCAPE framework and the project was delivered on schedule and within budget.

Shaya Alexander, project manager at Kier Places, said: “It’s been fantastic to work on a project which will bring so much benefit both to Sheffield Hallam students and to the wider community.

“We built a strong relationship with the team at Sheffield Hallam, making sure we understood their needs – including timescales, local geography, and specifications – from day one, and we’re delighted to be handing over the pitches on time and within budget.”

Chris Dales, senior project manager in Sheffield Hallam’s Estates’ Team, said: “As well as being a very friendly and helpful team, the Kier Places team were extremely collaborative in working with us to develop the designs in line with the specialist industry specifications and minimise disruption to the adjacent live facilities while ensuring the end product was delivered on programme and to budget.”

Katherine Cox, head of physical activity and sport at Sheffield Hallam, said: “Our synthetic pitches are the lifeblood of our outdoor team sport provision and ensuring they are fit for purpose is so important.

“We now have spaces that our students are proud to call their own and reflect the university’s aspirations around sport and physical activity.

“The synthetic pitch refurbishment ensures our Club Sport programme can thrive, providing a dedicated home for Team Hallam activity, allowing the students to perform to the highest standard in a high-quality environment.”

Mark Robinson, SCAPE group chief executive, added: “Kier has a strong track record of delivering projects via SCAPE, and this is another example of their efficient, professional response to a technical brief.

“The collaboration to complete the upgrades within time and cost constraints is a testament to the strong working relationship they developed with the university, and these sporting facilities will no doubt be enjoyed for years to come.”