Sport & Leisure:Layout 1 01/07/2009 16:23 Page 43
sport & leisure
Dual access sport on
a grand scale
As part of the wider Defence Training Review, the vast Defence Technical College (DTC)
at St Athan in South Wales, will bring together technical training for all three Services
(RAF, Navy, Army) in one location, creating the largest vocational training operation in the
country. The leisure facilities are being designed by project architects Scott Brownrigg
with HLM Landscape Architects on behalf of Metrix.
I
N MAY, Metrix (a 50/50 joint venture Public use
between the defence technology group These facilities will also include a sports
QinetiQ and facilities management and leisure complex, the scope and scale
specialist Sodexo) submitted outline of which would not otherwise have been
planning applications for the DTC at the brought to the Vale of Glamorgan. These
site of MOD St Athan in the Vale of leisure facilities will be available for public
Glamorgan. Covering an area of some 360 use, outside the core military hours,
hectares, it will provide a new living and ensuring that the significant benefits of
learning environment that will allow military the development are brought to the
personnel to take advantage of the latest local community.
learning methods and technology. Located within a multi-use training,
With up to 4,500 students and trainers recreational and event venue at
present at any one time, the DTC will Picketston, which is to the north of the
create a development similar in size to a main DTC site, designs for the main
small town. As a result, it will have all the building within the leisure complex aim to
facilities that would be expected of a create an exciting sporting destination.
small town, including shops, pubs, cafes With a dynamic, yet clean and simple feel,
Above: The grandstand.
and catering and places of worship, to the landmark building is designed as a
Below: Swimming pool. support the students during their stay. crisp, sharp box with a slash of glazing
running across the width of the building
reflecting the split of uses internally and
ending in an impressive main entrance.
the building is designed
as a crisp, sharp box
with a slash of glazing
Inside, the building is designed around a
central, 75-metre long, two storey ‘street’
with light wells, which will encourage
circulation through the building and give
easy access to the main sports spaces,
with wet sports (and pools) to the right
and dry sports to the left.4
edbmagazine.co.uk 43
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84