Overview
Keen to expand their sports facilities Poole Grammar School approached Ball Hall Ltd and Acheson Construction Ltd for a funding model and construction of a purpose-built Sports Hall, Gym and Administration Centre.
The Brief
Barker’s multi-disciplinary design practice was selected by Acheson and Ball Hall to take the project from RIBA Stage 3 (Planning) to completion. The sports hall was to be erected on the site of the school’s former sports hall to cater for multiple sports. The client wanted a bright, vibrant facility incorporating sustainable and low-cost energy solutions.
The Challenge
There were a number of onerous Planning Conditions to comply with, which the team as a whole worked well together to solve and clear to the satisfaction of the planning dept.
Access was critical to the design as pedestrian and vehicle access is gained from the front and round the building and leads onto the external playing fields.
The Solution
The new sports hall was completed to a high standard. At the centre of the scheme is a large double-height sports hall marked out with various courts for play, with plenty of equipment storage rooms. The hall is surrounded by other rooms over two floors with a central corridor and viewing area into the hall itself. These rooms include teaching spaces, changing rooms, climbing chamber, storage, reception & office, medical room, fitness studio, staff room and showers/WC’s, complete with all associated services, hard and soft external landscape.
The external materials included a Euroclad insulated and profiled roof with bullnosed eaves profile and fitted with a solar PV array.
The Outcome
The client, staff and students were very pleased with the completed building. The design was praised for its flexibility and use of materials and colour. The floor finishes in particular were picked out as being durable and practical. The school were delighted with the way the team had answered the brief and executed the project. The new sports hall will allow the school to continue providing exceptional sports facilities for students and community for several years to come.
“Acheson Construction engaged Barker in the successful delivery of the new multi-purpose sports hall and sports teaching facility at Poole Grammar School. The project was completed to programme and was very enthusiastically received by the client team at Poole Grammar school, who expressed their appreciation for all those involved in delivery of this project. The project presented several design challenges to the team, all of which were overcome in the delivery a fantastic new facility for the students, teaching staff and local community after-school sporting clubs.”
Acheson Construction