University of Portsmouth unveils sports facility
University of Portsmouth has unveiled to the public our plans for a new sustainable sports facility. It represents the first major phase of the University’s estate development masterplan, which aims to reshape its city centre campus to enhance the student experience and strengthen connections with the rest of the city.
The sports facility will include an eight court sports hall, eight lane 25m swimming pool, fitness suite, multipurpose studios, squash courts, climbing wall and a ski simulator as well as teaching facilities and office space. The proposed plans will significantly enhance the non-academic life of students, promoting health and wellbeing through the provision of a wide range of opportunities for activity and movement.
Located on the corner of Ravelin Park at an important juncture between the University campus and the city centre, the facility presents an opportunity to create a welcoming gateway into the university quarter and establish a public facing presence in the city centre. The site strategy has been developed to grasp this opportunity whilst responding sensitively to the park and surrounding context.
The proposed building also sets new standards for sustainability for a sports building and as a result is on target to be the first to be BREEAM rated Outstanding.
Michael Hall, Partner at FaulknerBrowns, said: “We are delighted to not only be working with an aspirational client on one of their first key buildings in their estate development masterplan, but to be responsible for delivering a sports facility with industry leading sustainability credentials.”
Irina Korneychuk, Project Leader at FaulknerBrowns, said: “We are excited to unveil our plans for a sports facility which promotes integration of the University campus with its surroundings and applies the contemporary principles of active design. This will create an environment which promotes health and wellbeing by inspiring people to be more active, throughout the University of Portsmouth, and the city as a whole.”
Professor Graham Galbraith, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Portsmouth, said: “We are excited to announce plans for the first building of our £400 million estate masterplan. It is our priority to create a facility that will provide the best experience for our students and staff, as well as reaching out to our local community.”
