News
Bassingbourn sports hall open for all - 12 June 2008
Designed by Pick Everard, a new £2.6m community sports hall at Bassingbourn Village College in South Cambridgeshire is now complete.
Serving both the college and the community, a multi-disciplinary team at Pick Everard has designed the new building to be energy efficient and sustainable; sited to make the best use of natural light from the north and reduce overheating in summer and using natural ventilation and geothermal heat for its under floor heating.
“Value for money is vital is all education projects,” said Alastair Hamilton, partner at Pick Everard, “so we designed the sports hall to offer a high standard of facilities in a building which minimises environmental impact and is also cost effective.”
With a floor area of 1435m2, the new building has a central concourse and viewing gallery overlooking a multi-purpose four-court sports hall, and a large studio for gymnastics and fitness classes. Separate changing rooms are provided for both indoor and outdoor sports and a new synthetic pitch has been added to existing external sporting facilities. Brick walls give the building a degree of robust quality while gently curved roofs soften the impact of the large enclosed spaces.
An archaeological dig undertaken prior to construction uncovered evidence of an Iron Age settlement.
College principal Scott Hudson, comments, “ The new building is a magnificent facility and one which the Village College and local community have been waiting for, for a very long time. The sports hall, studio and all weather pitch will allow the College to build upon its sporting strengths and enable students and the wider community to access a whole range of new opportunities and activities in a building which is truly fit for purpose.”
Former pupil and international hockey star Jo Ellis opened the hall officially on May 3rd.
