In 2005, we were appointed to undertake a Feasibility Study on the Memorial Recreation Ground in West Ham. This site has an important place in footballing history as it is the site where West Ham Football Club started as a works team.

The site included a rugby club with a pavilion and three rugby pitches, and a local authority football pavilion with six football pitches. The feasibility study was to examine the possibility of providing a floodlit 3rd Generation Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) on the site together with new changing accommodation for the football pitches.

Following on from the Feasibility Study, we were appointed by the West Ham and Plaistow NDC to develop the design through to completion.

The scheme includes two pavilions, one being designed for the grass pitches and one for the AGP, together with a remodelling and landscaping of the main entrance into the ground. The pavilions have been designed to be sustainable and include green roofs, high levels of natural light and insulation. The external walls are faced with stone-filled gabion baskets, to minimize the building’s attraction to graffiti artists.

The football pitches on the site include a full-size AGP, one senior football pitch complete with new drainage and three junior pitches. New land drainage was also provided to the main rugby pitch.

The contract value for the pavilions and entrance works was £1.9m and the Pitch works were procured on a separate contract to a value of £550,000. The project was completed in Summer 2009.

The Galvanizers Association awarded the project a Highly Commended Award in 2010.