Client: Ashford Borough Council / Julie Rose Stadium Trust Location: Ashford, Kent Form of Contract: JCT Design & Build Value: £3,500,000 A major development within Provian Construction’s leisure portfolio, the Julie Rose International Athletics Stadium in Ashford, Kent, required a combination of the company’s skills to deliver the highly challenging project. Built on the site of a former quarry, the project was awarded the Chairman’s Trophy at the 2006 Quarry Products Association Restoration Awards for its commitment to community involvement, one of the key tenants of the industry's approach to sustainable development. The stadium is likely to become a key training facility in the run up to the 2012 Olympics. Built on the site of Brett Aggregate’s former Conningbrook Quarry, the Julie Rose Athletics Stadium offers high quality sporting facilities to local people and Olympic standard training opportunities for athletes who travel from further afield. Working closely with Ashford Borough Council and the Julie Rose Stadium Trust, Provian Construction’s Civil Engineering and Building teams completed grandstands, gymnasium facilities and all vital groundworks to serve the development. With its futuristic, 86 metre long canopy, it’s one of the most striking athletics venues anywhere in Europe. Provian’s work at the stadium involved: • Project Development • Sports stadium and grandstand construction • Infrastructure and external works The complex includes a Grandstand, Pavillion, Indoor Throws building, 8 Lane Running Track and associated field event lay out in accordance with the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s stringent requirements. A big challenge for Provian was the creation of the tented canopy structure. This involved a significant lift, using seven cranes, to simultaneously get the ten peaks into position all at the same time. The track also required careful attention. A specialist rubber crumb surface was used to a high tolerance finish to achieve international standards. It was built up on an asphalt base course and over a high specification aggregate base. The stadium was opened by award winning Olympic medallist, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, Britain's most successful Paralympian.