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Ravelin Sports Centre
Ravelin Sports Centre has set the standard for ultra-low energy sports facilities. The fossil-fuel free building supports the health of the community without harming the environment they live in.
Summary
University sports facility
Location
Portsmouth, England
Client
University of Portsmouth
Size
11,300m²
Completion
2022
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth corner glazing 10 11
Vision
Driven by the goal of a carbon-neutral campus, the University of Portsmouth set ambitious sustainability targets for its new sports centre. These were not only exceeded, but redefined by FaulknerBrowns. Instead of following pre-defined norms for sustainable design, we built low-energy solutions from the ground up in a way that would work with the geography and for the people.
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth facade details g
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth closeup of teracotta battons g
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth from across ravelin park g
Making sports inclusive

The building houses a 25m swimming pool, sports hall, climbing wall, fitness studios, squash courts and more, providing a welcoming health and fitness hub for students and the local community. 

The uninterrupted glazing around the ground floor not only lets in natural light (a feature missing from many sports facilities), but allows an outside view of the fitness spaces, helping to create an open and inviting environment. At the entrance, there are no turnstiles, meaning visitors can explore the facilities easily. Each fitness area features a ‘fringe’ space where people can relax, socialise or study alongside the sports facilities, breaking down barriers to participation and encouraging students and locals to integrate fitness into their everyday lives.

Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth views out from gym 3x4
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth view looking into pool from outside g
Optimising performance

We collaborated with sustainability consultants Max Fordham on this project, which achieved a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating—the highest accreditation for environmental performance in building design. The building’s energy performance is regularly monitored to ensure that ambitious sustainability targets continue to be upheld.

Through its compact shape, efficient external shell, abundant natural light and clever ventilation, the building is designed to minimise heat loss and energy use. Instead of installing conventional low-energy air conditioning, we created a system that pumps in cold air from outside, favouring no energy over low energy by capitalising on the local climate. The skylight above the pool means that it doesn’t need additional heating for three months of the year. The centre is fossil-fuel free, heated by air source heat pumps and features a bio-solar roof. These design solutions afforded FaulknerBrowns new credibility as a sustainable architecture firm.

Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth aerial drone photograph 3x4
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth lifeguard watching swimmers in pool corner 3x2
The 100-year pool
Balancing, carbon, cost and culture in the lifecycle of a leisure building
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth pool hall corner 3x2
“The sustainability credentials of the building are hugely impressive and should act as a template for future sports facilities of its type.”
Civic Trust Awards 2024 Judging Panel
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth environmental axonometric diagram 3 3x4
Environmental approach
Each part of the environmental approach was carefully considered from the lush neighbourhood to bee hives, from active transportation to effective natural and mechanical ventilation.
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth environmental axonometric diagram 3 3x4
Each part of the environmental approach was carefully considered from the lush neighbourhood to bee hives, from active transportation to effective natural and mechanical ventilation.
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth environmental axonometric diagram 1 3x2
Each part of the environmental approach was carefully considered from the lush neighbourhood to bee hives, from active transportation to effective natural and mechanical ventilation.
Ravelin sports centre university of portsmouth environmental axonometric diagram 2 3x2
Each part of the environmental approach was carefully considered from the lush neighbourhood to bee hives, from active transportation to effective natural and mechanical ventilation.

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