An artist's impression of the new sports centre
The contract has been signed for the new £20m sports centre to be built near the rugby pitches. Work has already started on the 6,000 sq metre centre, which is due to be finished in 2011.
The state of the art facility will offer a 25 metre Swimming Pool with 8 lanes, Climbing Wall & Bouldering Cave, Health & Fitness Suites, Sauna & Steam Room, Multi-functional Space, Sports Hall with 8 badminton Courts, 4 Squash Courts and Outdoor Changing Facilities.
The building has been designed to achieve the BREEAM 'Excellent' rating, which sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design.
Kim Montgomery, Director of Sport at Lancaster University said: “We are really pleased the contract has been signed, it is going to be a fantastic facility for everyone to use.”
The contractors are GallifordTry who have also won the contract to build the four-storey Waterside development on campus.
The sports centre forms part of the university’s ongoing investment programme in residential, academic and social facilities.The design and development process has taken two years to ensure a high-quality design which shows consideration to the surrounding area. The new centre will be accessible to staff, students, schools, and the local community.
When complete, it will be 30 percent bigger than the university’s existing sports facility which was opened in 1967. The eight lane pool will include a ‘floating floor’ which can vary the depth of the pool and the new climbing wall has been specially designed with input from renowned mountaineer and Chancellor Sir Christian Bonington.