Specialist structural engineering consultancy across the sports, entertainment and leisure sector
Willis Hazell Engineers – the structural engineering consultancy providing high-value design solutions to our clients across the full breadth of the sports, entertainment and leisure sector.
With over 50 years’ combined experience in the industry, and significant involvement in more than 100 sports and leisure projects, we understand what will make your project successful, and how to apply our specialist knowledge to find pragmatic solutions for every challenge.
Always collaborative and courteous, we’re agile, able to make decisions and respond to our clients needs quickly, clearly and concisely.
Who we are
Willis Hazell Engineers was set up by Martin Willis and Rob Hazell in 2023.
Martin Willis
Martin has a proven track record in delivering impactful projects, particularly in sports, entertainment and leisure infrastructure. Formerly serving as Director and Head of Sport at Ramboll, Martin spearheaded initiatives that not only met but exceeded client expectations.
His strategic approach centres on a deep understanding of clients' and stakeholders' unique needs, allowing him to tailor solutions that resonate and deliver tangible value.
Martin's portfolio boasts an impressive array of national and international projects, each a testament to his adeptness in navigating complexities and delivering value. His holistic approach fosters collaboration across disciplines, resulting in design solutions that are not only well co-ordinated, but also deliver the highest value.
Rob Hazell
Rob has over 25 years of contractor and consultancy experience within the construction industry, primarily focused on the sports and leisure sector.
Well-established in the industry, he has gained an excellent reputation for developing and then delivering pragmatic, buildable and cost-effective engineering solutions for clients. He is fully able to advise them on all technical issues, including strategies for feasibility and planning approval, concept design, buildability, construction techniques, detailed design, procurement routes and risk mitigation.
With a passion for innovation and technical excellence, Rob has a current key focus on sustainability and leading the delivery of net zero carbon strategies.
Martin and Rob are both Chartered Structural Engineers.
How we add value
We offer a unique approach to projects, drawing on our wide-ranging experience, to provide you with well-considered and deliverable design solutions. Specifically:
We challenge
We don’t accept the status quo, the ‘this is how it was done before’. We interrogate and we challenge architects, clients, other designers and ourselves on all aspects of a project in order to generate better outcomes for you; whether that’s reducing construction costs, minimising embodied carbon, shortening build programmes, mitigating project risks or maximising value-adding opportunities.
We design to meet your budget
We take the time to understand your financial drivers, assist you in developing realistic project cost plans, and then develop designs to meet those cost plans. Drawing on our extensive relationships within the supply chain, we test these designs in the market to ensure that your commercial requirements are met.
We produce designs to be built
Buildability is a key consideration from the outset and is fundamental to how we develop a design, with a focus on simplicity and efficiency. We develop designs that can be simply and efficiently built, and any construction sequencing and associated assumptions we make are continually tested with the supply chain to ensure market buy-in.
We design for low carbon
We maintain a detailed understanding of the latest developments in low-carbon construction solutions and we bring this to bear on all projects. Tracking the embodied carbon on all our designs allows us to guide and assist you in delivering buildings that are as low in carbon as feasibly possible.
Structural Engineering
- Engineering design of new and existing structures
- Lightweight and temporary structures design
- Construction methodology and buildability advice
- Client Technical Advisor role
- Embodied carbon tracking
- Green Guide annual inspections and structural appraisals
Civil Engineering
- Earthworks design and modelling
- Flood risk assessment and mitigation
- Foul and surface water underground drainage
- Road and highways design
- Site appraisals
Case Studies
We’ve worked on some amazing projects, both for Willis Hazell and previous practices; here is a selection we are most proud of:
Ashton Gate Development
A major upgrade to the existing Ashton Gate stadium for Bristol Sport. The project comprised the construction of two new stands and major refurbishment to a third.
Kop stand redevelopment at the Racecourse Ground for Wrexham AFC
A new 5,500 capacity stand to increase the capacity of the stadium to 15,000.
Arena Abertawe for Swansea City Council
A new 5,000 capacity arena, constructed as part of a wider city centre regeneration project.
A selection of new Clubs for David Lloyd Leisure
The construction of new premium health, fitness and wellbeing Clubs. Facilities include internal and external pools, exercise studios, spa and wellness rooms, multipurpose halls, tennis and padel courts along with a large Members clubroom and external terrace.
Lee Valley Ice Centre for the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
A new dual pad ice centre facility, to complement the range of world class sporting facilities already existing in the wider Park.
Other projects we have worked on
Our sports, entertainment and leisure experience spans over 25 years. Our designs have evolved over time in response to the ever changing market and world around us, but we still lean back on so many of these projects for inspiration.