£20m racecourse expansion

Sandown Park Racecourse has added conference, corporate hospitality, exhibition and restaurant facilities in a £20m expansion scheme.

The new facilities are intended to attract business and leisure activities to the park outside of the 26 days of racing per year.

'Racecourses, are under increasing pressure to develop their facilities, to increase their revenue,' said Henry Herzberg, a director of designers, Chapman Taylor. 'The challenge is to incorporate other facilities without damaging the prime function of the building.'

An entirely new building, the Eclipse Pavilion, has been built to cater for corporate hospitality and incorporates external transparent glazing to provide views over the racecourse. Private boxes have been designed which can increase or decrease in size for different parties.

A new entrance to the Surrey racecourse's 1970s grandstand has been built and the first floor terrace has been covered with a fabric canopy to provide external protection on rainy days, but also to 'soften the effect of the original concrete structure'. The project also included a media centre, new staff facilities building and improved parking. Details: +44 (0)20 7371 3000