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46 PROJECT REPORT: SPORTS & LEISURE FACILITIES


D


esigning a modern, state-of-the-art sports complex to sit alongside Grade II and Grade II* listed


buildings in a conservation area is normally a challenge to say the least – but in this case it was one that long-established practice David Morley Architects (DMA) relished. The sports complex was the final stage in a 10 year infrastructure masterplan – produced by Tim Ronalds Architects – that has seen various improvements and additions made to the popular and growing 192-year-old independent day school. “Education and sports projects are the backbone of our practice,” says Mark Davies, associate at DMA, explaining how their expertise in the sector gave them confidence to pursue this scheme with vigour, despite its seemingly daunting nature. The practice were invited to a limited competition before being awarded the contract. “Our ‘dream’ projects are those which pose a challenge, e.g. which are in a sensitive or heritage setting,” Davies explains. The practice’s vast experience in the sports sector stood them in good stead for the briefing phase of this complex scheme. “It allowed us to interrogate what was right for this client,” he says. “We know what different sports need – the standards, the benefits of natural light in those


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environments for encouraging participation in a gentle way.”


Brief


The school already had a variety of sports facilities, but they were spread out around the site and in need of renewal and bringing up to modern standards, says Davies. The school’s estate had seen various additions and changes over the years, so the functions were distributed in an ad hoc way. “A key element of the brief was to bring it all together cohesively,” explains Davies. The new £21m facilities were the third and final element of the 10 year masterplan, which presented an “ambitious regeneration” comprising a new reception, pavilion and quadrangle, plus a refurbished dining hall, new classroom block, state-of- the-art music school (complete with 200 seat concert hall), and finally the sports centre itself.


As well as the pressure from siting the development alongside listed buildings and in a conservation area, the ante was raised further by the prestigious school having been named the Sunday Times Independent School of the Year multiple times. Nevertheless the school were reportedly happy to entrust the practice with the design. “The masterplan was flexible and open,” says Davies. “They were model


ADF MAY 2021


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