new
opening
GOING UNDERGROUND
The University of Edinburgh’s Pleasance Sports Complex is based on the site of an old brewery that was built in the late 1700s and features a series of sub-basement vaults that originally held kegs of beer. Julie Fisher explores how this ancient building was transformed into a state of the art sport and exercise facility for students and public alike
H
ome to more than 23,000 students, the University of Edinburgh is ranked among the top 20 universities in
the world (The Times Higher Education World Rankings 2009). Its Centre for Sport and Exercise (CSE) has one of the largest, most respected multi-sport and fitness programmes in the country and it prides itself on offering a high quality of service and support. On 9 August 2010, following a 52-
week build and 10-week equipment installation, the chancellor of the university, HRH Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, offi cially opened a £4.8m, three-storey extension, providing around 1,900sq m of additional sports conditioning and physical activity space. The Pleasance Sports Complex
can now claim to be the largest gym complex in Scotland, with more than 6,000sq m of activity space and offering a multitude of facilities and equipment to its 15,400 members.
32
a fusion of old and new The original 100-station Precor CV gym was opened in 2005, along with a remodelling of the 40-station body conditioning gym. “These state of the art spaces proved hugely popular with customers,” says Jim Aitken MBE, director of the CSE. “This impressive growth in demand presented some logistical challenges for the CSE management team and was exacerbated by the Pleasance’s quirky layout, multiple levels and timber flooring – all leading to the conclusion that a weights room with a concrete floor was required as a matter of urgency.” The building work, which started
in May 2009, followed detailed planning in partnership with Inspirit, the exclusive distributor for Precor in Scotland, building contractor Graham Construction, Edinburgh- based architects Oberlanders and the university’s Estates Offi ce. The existing facilities remained operational
Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
throughout the work and quiet times were even incorporated into the plan to accommodate exams that were taking place, as well as the university’s major involvement in the Edinburgh International Festival/Fringe during the summer months. The internal environment of both
new and older areas was integral to the build and required a distinctive and consistent approach. A design team led by Inspirit liaised with CSE’s management team, Oberlanders, and the CSE’s preferred designed agency Shaw Marketing and Design to produce a walk-through programme that sympathetically incorporated the old with the new and that provided cohesive colour and style. The team looked at every aspect –
from corridor graphics and banners to glazing and branding – to ensure the right mood was created. Fresh, vibrant colours including purple and orange have been used throughout the
november/december 2010 © cybertrek 2010
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