Stafford Leisure Centre Stafford
Stafford, Stafford Leisure Centre - Stafford Leisure Centre
Barnett Ratcliffe Partnership were appointed in 2003 to design a new leisure centre for Stafford Borough Council to replace the existing facility. Stafford Borough Council prepared a brief and a schedule of accommodation to Trent City Security and we prepared scheme drawings for a new site off Lammascote Road, Stafford. The key directive was to provide a 25-metre swimming pool to hold gala events, a teaching pool with a movable floor, a food court, a modern sports hall suitable for various sporting activities, and a modern gym facility to rival the new private facilities that were opening at that time in Stafford.
Project Details
Client Type: Commercial
Completion: March 2008
Architectural Services
- Architectural Services
- Full Service as Planning Supervisors
- Contract Advice, Documentation and Administration
- Project Management
- Building Maintenance Advice
- Site Inspection and Evaluation
- Feasibility Studies
- Development Planning
- Sketch Designs, Including Presentation Material
Project Overview
Barnett Ratcliffe Partnership worked closely with the leisure services at Stafford Borough Council to ensure that the facility provided fulfilled the outlined brief whilst also sticking to the clients outline budget and time frame.
Regular stakeholder meeting were held during the early RIBA Work Stages to formalise a design and we also monitored proposed expected build costs prior to submitting a planning application in 2005. We assisted the client on selecting consulting to deliver associated designs (structural and buildings services) and cost information and we also advised and took part in the tender process, this included being present during interviews and providing professional advice and recommendations on contractors during 2006.
Once the main contractor was appointed, it was felt that the client needed a stronger level of continuity and so Barnett Ratcliffe and other key design team members were novated to the contractor to provide technical support. In October 2006, construction of the new leisure complex began.
As standard, we attended all contractural and client meetings to ensure that the client's wishes were adhered too. We were also involved in value engineering the original design - this enabled the main contractor to produce a building which retained the original design ethos on time and on budget.
Focus Meetings
As the project was a public building, we also attended meetings with key focus groups to discuss and address any concerns which related to the proposed design. key elements of the construction that required a close attention to detail included:
Ensuring that the length of the pool remained in tolerance
Ensuring that the pool with a movable floor provided flexibility in teaching levels
Ensuring that the sports hall had flush walls in a specific colour so as not to interrupt certain sports line of vision
Ensuring that all balcony seats had an uninterrupted view of the pool
Stafford Borough Council were also keen to develop a sustainable and energy efficient building - this was achieved in compliance with Sport England Standards. The centre was constructed with the provision of solar panels and the option to install a biomass boiler in the future. Overall, we take pride in the fact that the centre boasts a modern, sustainable and competitive design within the leisure market.