Apollo Projects were engaged by St. Thomas’s for the design and build of a new 2,124m² sports hall on the college site in Christchurch. The facility includes P.E, offices, physio room, weights room, four changing rooms and associated amenities, foyer/reception, sports hall/courts and bleacher seating.
The facility is set up with markings for three basketball courts - one full-size show court and two community courts running across the facility, as well as futsal, badminton and volleyball. The floor is a polyurethane on rubber sports floor selected for its suitability for multi-sport use, low maintenance and for the fact the hall also functions as the school assembly hall, and being available for community use.
The gymnasium is practical in design, layout and construction, and robust in nature befitting a boys’ school. The single level layout provides a cost-effective, energy efficient and accessible facility for the school and community. The inclusion of a full tilt slab end wall makes the building functional by integrating outside sports activity also i.e. cricket and football.
The modular structure of the building also allows for expansion in the future.
Energy performance of the building is important for reducing long term operational costs. Kingspan wall and roof cladding ensure that the highest levels of insulation and air tightness are achieved minimising ongoing heating costs. The highly reflective interior surface of the panels will also enhance the light reflectivity within the sports hall area. Making the most of natural light is also key to the efficiency of the building. Incorporated into the design of the building are insulated ‘wall-lites’. This modern technology is often included in the design of sporting facilities as they do not compromise the insulating properties of the building and allow for natural light to flood in.
Parallel to the construction of the sports hall, Apollo have also been engaged in the design and construction of their administration and classroom block.
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