Introduction
'The University is very excited with its new Sports Centre...the facilities are in popular demand from student, staff and local residents alike. The closely considered Rick Mather Architects design executed with an equally watchful eye on the construction detail of this deceptively large building has raised the profile of architecture in everyday conversation on campus.It is clear that the efforts of Rick Mather Architects on this building have been noticed and appreciated by the community as a whole.'
John Bulford
Project Manager
University of Southampton
The sports complex is situated on a prime site in the centre of the campus. The arrangement of the building functions were considered to animate the street and to remove the bulk of the sports hall from the Library Square and the University Avenue. This has been clad in seamless metal panelling to provide a backdrop to the surrounding botanical gardens to the back of the site. A full view of the new swimming pool is given through the glazing to the University Avenue making it an active part of the streetscape. The fitness suite tiered above the double-height reception and cafe is also evident to passing pedestrians.
The site falls away to the west from University Avenue to the University Botanical Gardens. The building design utilises this natural site condition by locating the large volume sports hall to the botanical garden boundary, at a lower level to the swimming pool. With a roof structure carefully calculated to have the shallowest depth, a considerable reduction in the impact of the building on the surrounding context was achieved.
The sports complex accommodates a six lane, 25m (82 ft) swimming pool, an eight court badminton hall and a 450m² (1,476 sq.ft) fitness centre. The sports and swimming pool halls are designed with spectator seating to host national and international competitions. The new building also contains a large reception area, a cafe and offices for staff.
The Dolphin
A new look campus at Highfield
Karen Woods - July 03
Client
University of Southampton
Location
Southampton, UK
Size
4,500m²
Value
£7.8m
Completed
Feb 04