Client

Carlisle United Football Club

Value

£2.8million

THE PROJECT

Story Contracting were contracted by Carlisle United Football Club to complete fit out works within the East Stand of the club’s Brunton Park stadium. The works required extensive redevelopment of all four levels of the stand, with three of the levels having remained largely unutilised since construction in the 1990s.

The completed project would enable the club to more than double the stadium’s capacity for matchday hospitality offerings as well as provide new classroom and function spaces to boost non-matchday revenue. The works to all floors included:

Third floor: construction of eight new hospitality boxes with a combined capacity of 80 people
Second floor: creation of three new hospitality lounges, boardroom and bar areas
First floor: creation of new class rooms and expanded office area for club staff
Ground floor: alterations to existing bar and kitchen areas and installation of new service and personnel lifts.

View Gallery
View Gallery

The project involved the following main activities:

  • Demolition of existing floors and walls
  • Formation of new and alterations to existing lift shafts
  • Installation of new goods and personnel lifts
  • First and second fix M&E installations, including new air conditioning system throughout the stand
  • Upgrade to existing substation due to increased electrical demands
  • Construction of new metal stud walls on all floors
  • Installation of steel cantilevers and block and beam to third-floor hospitality box areas
  • Removal and replacement of glazing
  • Installation of new glass handrails to external areas
  • Installation of ceilings and insulation throughout
  • Extensive decorating and flooring works to all areas
  • Removal of existing stair case on second floor
  • Removal of seats within stand to create space for hospitality box external viewing areas
  • Installation of new bar areas
  • Alterations to existing ground floor bars and kitchens

The project required the team to work to tight timescales, with the stadium only closed to the public for a short period during the club’s pre-season. This saw the team complete the project within a 20-week programme, with a partial handover agreed for the third floor to allow the club to use the new hospitality boxes for the first game of the 24/25 League Two season.

Further works were taking place around the entirety of the stadium, which saw the team work closely with other contractors to ensure works and deliveries did not impact on other works. This also required the substation upgrade works to be planned to align with the works of all contractors.

Throughout the project the Story team worked with multiple key stakeholders to ensure works were planned and complete successfully, with minimal disruption. The team also worked closely with Carlisle United to enable the club to create weekly progress videos to update fans
on the refurbishment works.

A group of 10 local secondary school and sixth form students visited the project as part of their week-long Story Summer School work experience. This allowed them to gain an insight into life in the construction industry as part of Story’s commitment to inspiring future generations.

Nigel Clibbens – CUFC

The whole approach to the work from day one until completion was brilliant. The quality of work and the care the workforce took to meet our requirements could not be faulted. Story operated with speed, flexibility and professionalism and delivered a great outcome for us. It’s a credit to all involved and we look forward to working together again in future.

Nigel Clibbens - Chief Executive

Carlisle United Football Club

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