SIR CHRIS HOY VELODROME

While it seems most of the country is focused on London2012, the team at BLE Smoke & Fire curtains has been working on protecting one of the most important new buildings being built for the Glasgow 2014 commonwealth games,  in which 71 Commonwealth nations and territories will compete throughout 11 days of world-class sporting action. In the east end of Glasgow, progress is well underway on the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, named in honour of Scotland’s gold medal winning Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion, which will be one of the biggest indoor cycling facilities in Europe.

Designed by architects 3D Reid, the building is being built by Sir Robert McAlpine Limited with the fire strategy provided by Sheffield-based, Arup. The track at the velodrome is 250m long and has been designed by Ralph Schuermann, one of the world’s leading track designers.

BLE is proud to be the sole supplier of the automatic fire curtains throughout the velodrome, which were installed, commissioned and demonstrated by the BLE team in September 2011. Just in time for the three year countdown celebrations last month, in which Jenny David, the Commonwealth Games track cycling silver medallist, had the honour of being the first cyclist on the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome track.

Work on the £95m complex is expected to be completed by the end of next year, long before the first Commonwealth Games team arrives. In fact, the first true test event at the velodrome will be the Junior Track Cycling World Championships in 2013.

For a country with such a remarkable track-record with cycling success, the velodrome will be an invaluable asset for attracting world-class athletes to Scotland and developing young talent in the future.