Work Starts on Cambridge Sports Centre

Construction work has begun on the site of the £16 million Phase One of the long-awaited Cambridge Sports Centre at West Cambridge.

Francis Shiner, Managing Director of SDC Builders Ltd., the main contractor for the project, welcomed more than 80 guests to a ground-breaking ceremony at the site this week to mark the start of work.

Those attending included architects, engineers and other contractors, key figures in Sport at the University and Guest of Honour Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor of the University.

The architecturally stunning Cambridge Sports Centre, designed by Arup Associates, will welcome patrons into a grand lobby and lounge area complete with audio-visual space to catch the latest match or lunchtime lecture, and a café.  From this area, through an elegant glass partition, will be visible the spacious fitness suite with a full range of state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment.
 
At the core of the Centre will be a vast sports hall, housing two full-size courts for basketball, badminton, boxing, five-a-side football, volleyball, netball and other court games.  
 
There will be an impressive strength and conditioning wing, with free-weights platforms and a three-lane plyometric track. This will be an important resource for students and members of the public alike, whether their focus is on training for health and wellbeing, rehabilitation or in support of sports performance.

A large multi-purpose room will cater to the martial arts, yoga, spinning, and floor-based exercises including fencing, dancing and gymnastics.

There will be space for future provision, subject to funding, of a sports medicine and rehabilitation space and a separate wing of six fives courts (three of each discipline) and a row of five international-standard squash courts.  

It will provide a world-class accessible facility for recreation, training and competition and will bring together, under one roof, hundreds of athletes from the University and the local community.

Francis Shiner said: “We are delighted to be a part of the delivery of such a refreshing building which will no doubt amongst other things produce champions for the benefit of the country. We will all be able to feel that we have an investment in their success.”

Michael Bienias, Director of Estate Management, said: “Everyone has worked extremely hard, contributing a great deal, to reach this stage and we have an excellent project team in place.  I now  look forward to delivery of a superb building and a successful sports project.”

Tony Lemons, Director of Physical Education, said: “The first phase of the project will initiate a step-change in the quality and scope of sport facilities available to the University population and the local community. It will enable the Physical Education Department to significantly expand its educational programmes.”

The Vice-Chancellor said: “This is a key project for the University. Through its impact on the individual, sport helps the University achieve it mission of pursuing education, learning and research at the highest levels of international excellence. This state-of-the-art Sports Hall will mark a new era for Cambridge sport.”

Cambridge Sports Centre is expected to open in October 2013.

Two further phases are planned, subject to funding, to provide indoor and outdoor tennis courts and a 50 metre swimming pool.

www.cambridgesportscentre.com  

www.sport.cam.ac.uk

Article taken from http://news.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/2012/05/01/work-starts-on-cambridge-sports-centre/