Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands were appointed to design this new indoor sports centre for the University of Birmingham following an extensive feasibility study. The University aims to provide world class facilities in keeping with its status as a Russell Group institution and its exceptional reputation for sports education.
View of main entrance
CGI © Miller Hare. Published on March 07, 2014.
The new centre is situated on a brownfield site at the south east corner of the Edgbaston Campus. While the new centre’s entrance is oriented into the site, making it ‘of the campus’, it also encourages informal access from Bristol Road through a public colonnade. The scheme forms a ‘landmark’ for the university, but its civic identity is expressed through its strong form and welcoming configuration. with visibility of and access to the activities inside.
View of Sports Centre from the entrance to the Campus
CGI @ Miller Hare. Published on March 07, 2014.
The centre accommodating a wide array of facilities: a 50m swimming pool, a 12 badminton court sports hall with 700 bleacher seats, a supplementary hybrid sports hall, six squash courts, member and performance gyms, a spa, two activity rooms, and dojo. It also has a climbing wall, located immediately above the reception desk in a secure space accessed from first floor level. With the wall visible externally, a bespoke patterning concept for the wall finish adds to the dynamism of the space.
3D axonmetric of the swimming pool
© Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands . Published on March 07, 2014.
As well as enhancing the University’s ability to attract the best students, the centre is set to become a significant destination and encourage the public to enter the University’s Edgbaston Campus. The strategic composition of the building and landscape strategy sympathetically responds to the existing site, context and topography, connecting the City of Birmingham to the heart of the historic University campus.
Night view from Edgbaston Park Road
CGI © Miller Hare. Published on March 07, 2014.
In January 2014 it was announced that Interserve had won the contract to build the centre, due for completion at the end of 2015.
South West Isometric diagram
© Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands . Published on March 07, 2014.
West elevation
© Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands . Published on March 07, 2014.
3D view of foyer
© Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands . Published on March 07, 2014.
3D view of swimming pool
© Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands . Published on March 07, 2014.