We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Smith Construction has been named Large Sports or Play Project of the Year at the prestigious SAPCA Awards 2026, one of the most celebrated events in the UK sports and play construction industry.
The award recognises our work on the Expansion of Bluecoats Sports at Christ’s Hospital School in Horsham, Sussex. A project we are incredibly proud of and one that truly represents the best of what we do.
A Night to Remember
The SAPCA Awards 2026 gala dinner was held at the iconic Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, London, bringing together the finest companies across the sports and play construction sector. Now in their 11th year, the awards celebrate outstanding achievement, innovation, and the positive impact that high-quality sports facilities have on communities across the UK.
This year’s competition was fierce — more than 30 entries were submitted across six categories, and we were up against excellent companies in our category. Being selected as the winner by a judging panel of industry leaders is a recognition that means a great deal to our entire team.
The Project: Bluecoats Sports Expansion at Christ’s Hospital School
Christ’s Hospital School is one of the UK’s most distinguished educational establishments, and the Bluecoats Sports Expansion project gave us the opportunity to create a truly exceptional sporting facility worthy of its surroundings.
From the outset, our goal was to deliver a project that would serve students and the wider community for decades to come, combining technical excellence with sensitivity to the school’s heritage setting. We’re proud that the judges recognised this commitment to quality.
What This Award Means to Us
Winning the SAPCA Large Project of the Year is a fantastic achievement for everyone at Smith Construction. It reflects the dedication, expertise, and craftsmanship that our team brings to every project we undertake.
SAPCA Technical Lead Colin Corline summed it up well at the ceremony: the winning projects “highlighted the amazing impact that the facilities created by SAPCA members make in communities across the UK.” That community impact is at the heart of everything we do.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank:
- Christ’s Hospital School for trusting us with this outstanding project
- The SAPCA judging panel for recognising our work
- Our incredible team whose skill and dedication made this possible
- All our partners and suppliers who contributed to the project’s success
Looking Ahead
This award inspires us to continue raising the bar on every project we deliver. Whether we’re working on school sports facilities, community hubs, or elite performance venues, our commitment remains the same: to build sports and play spaces that make a genuine difference.
If you’re planning a sports facility project and would like to talk to an award-winning team, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch with us today, let’s build something great together.