Projects

Prior to redesign, the Chester-le-Street civic offices were spread over four buildings across Durham, meaning communication between departments was unsatisfactory and working conditions were poor. Our plan brought departments together and provided a collaborative and positive working environment.

We conceptualised the new building in collaboration with staff and studied the relationships within and between departments. The futuristic metal building utilises the strength and simplicity of the wedge shape with clear internal organisation. This social-impact-driven project merged civic administration with community activity.

This project was an important component of Inverclyde Council’s efforts to regenerate the Greenock Waterfront area. FaulknerBrowns won the commission owing to their track record for innovative leisure centres and progressive business practice.

The exterior of the building is visually striking. The sloping roof is intersected with a whalebone-like structure of curved beams, providing both structural support and a distinct visual identity. The building’s nautical-inspired features channel the area's maritime heritage.

Inverness Aquatics Centre was commissioned and designed to encourage community engagement, health and wellbeing. The centre features a 25-metre championship pool, leisure waters and an outdoor lagoon, as well as a health suite, café and function room. The floor of the main pool can be raised to accommodate beginners and less confident swimmers.

The facility has become a regional tourist attraction and community hub. In its first year of operation, it attracted almost 450,000 visitors, making it one of the top ten attractions in Scotland.

The National Cycling Centre in Manchester has become the home of British Cycling. Widely considered the most successful velodrome in the world, the building’s role in developing the sport and increasing the UK’s medal tally cannot be underestimated.

As a competition venue it has hosted the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, and was the primary training facility for Team GB in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The centre includes a 250-metre cycling track, BMX facility, spectator seating for 4000 people, and training and support facilities for both elite athletes and the local community. A 122-metre arch supports the lightweight aluminium roof and provides unobstructed views for spectators.

With peak attendance of over 700,000 visitors per year, Perth Leisure Centre is one of the preeminent tourist attractions in Scotland. Designed in 1984, we sought to inject colour, vibrancy and fun into the centre, transforming the traditional leisure pool archetype.

Comprising five pools, including an outdoor lagoon, flume rides, bubble beds and other features unique to Scotland at the time, the combination of leisure and formal pools proved outstandingly successful. This project reflects FaulknerBrowns’ continuous search to introduce new and high-quality experiences to the general public.

We were one of twelve international architects to compete for the design of this major leisure centre in the Netherlands. The complex contains an Olympic-sized ice rink with leisure ice trails, a large multi-purpose sports hall, health suite and sauna, function rooms and three pools. Additionally, the AquaFun family area features a wave pool and lazy river with a Hawaiian theme–injecting colour and playfulness into the space. Visitors can also relax in the viewing areas, cafés and restaurants.

Royal Quays is a large mixed-use development in North Tyneside. The first phase of this was Wet ‘n’ Wild waterpark, which at the time was the only commercially funded and operated waterpark of its kind in the UK.

FaulknerBrowns sought to create an immersive and vibrant facility with rides of varying intensity. The wave pool and a lazy river offered a more relaxing experience for those less adrenaline inclined. We also designed a dedicated small children’s area with slides and games.

Although now closed, the waterpark contributed to the ongoing regeneration of the region.