University of Glamorgan unveils Wales’ first BREEAM-Excellent sport facility
The University of Glamorgan has unveiled a state-of-the-art coaching and performance facility, designed by Holder Mathias Architects as the first BREEAM-Excellent rated sport facility in Wales, UK.
Designed by London-based Holder Mathias Architects and built by Midas Construction, the new sporting facility at the University of Glamorgan includes a multipurpose sports hall with six courts and an ancillary support block, strength and conditioning lab for elite training, a lecture and meeting room, as well as a teaching facility with a notational analysis room. This enables staff and coaches to track the strength and conditioning of athletes and monitor and breakdown their performance.
The £3.7 million ($6 million) facility has been built by Midas Construction on the existing playing fields at the university and has been designed in accordance with Sport England guidelines.
The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent rating was awarded for the use of super-efficient gas fired boilers, natural daylight and ventilation, along with A/A+ rated specification throughout, and forms part of the university’s continued strategy for responsible sustainable investment. The new state-of-the-art coaching and performance facility is the first of its type in Wales to be awarded a BREEAM Excellent rating for its sustainable design.
Stephen Hill, director at Holder Mathias, stated that the sports hall has particularly been praised for its point and area elastic floor and shock pads. Surface deflects under the athlete’s weight, preventing both injury and providing sufficient leeway to lessen the problems athletes often face with their ankles, knees and hips when turning sharply on traditional surfaces.
Another unique aspect of the new facility is its glass-backed badminton courts which create the sense of an open sports hall while, practically, enabling spectators and coaches to see activity going on at a ground level, rather than only from a gallery.
Simon Rowe, secretary of the Mid Glamorgan County Badminton Association praised the facility stating that the courts are well spaced with great lighting, and venting suited for badminton. The courts are well sprung, reducing the chance of injury. He added that the viewing galleries are also perfectly placed with the glass walls offering an excellent match atmosphere.
The facility, based at Glamorgan Sport Park, is in use by students during the daytime and by professional sports clubs and teams in the evening, and has already been used by the Welsh netball and badminton teams, Cardiff City Youth Academy and the Welsh Rugby Union as part of their elite coach education programme. The building is also being used by the visiting Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji rugby teams in preparation for their autumn international fixtures against Wales.
Holder Mathias has previously been involved in several projects with the University of Glamorgan, including designing its atrium building, as well as carrying out numerous master planning, campus strategy and faculty building studies and projects.
