G C Robertson is proud to detail our role in providing structural design for the new Needham Market Football Club (NMFC) stand, in partnership with Box Worx Ltd. This project highlights how precise structural engineering integrates with modular construction to deliver modern, efficient sports facilities. Our scope expanded from initial foundation design to include the full steel superstructure design.

The new ‘Treadfirst Stand’ uses repurposed shipping containers as its core base, providing two tiers for seating, hospitality, and media suites. Our challenge was ensuring the structural integrity across these modular and steel elements.

Key Structural Design Elements

Our work focused on ensuring stability, load transfer, and compliance:

• Modular Stability: We ensured the shipping containers were integrated as a cohesive structure. Twistlocks link the ground and first-floor containers at all corners. The existing container floor structures provide lateral restraint to the base of the goalpost columns.
• Superstructure Frame: We designed a robust steel frame using Universal Beams and Support Columns to support the new covered seating area and roof structure. This included designing the primary truss beams and vertical support columns.
• Seating and Walkways: The stand’s seating area is built on a separate frame of steel L-frames, which are structurally tied into the container base using heavy-duty steel sections. All connection plates are specified to be of a consistent, robust thickness.
• Roof Sheeting: The structure is topped with durable Kingspan KS1000RW Roof Panels.
• Foundation and Ground Fixings: To transfer loads safely, the design incorporates RSA cleats bolted to the container corner casts for expected ground fixings. We initially focused on the vital foundation design to ensure safe load bearing.

This collaborative effort with Box Worx delivered a high-quality, structurally compliant stand for NMFC. The successful integration of modular construction with precise structural engineering resulted in an excellent new facility for the club.