The new £21 million Sports Dock complex at the University of East London’s Docklands Campus in Newham has opened on time, ready for its first real test this summer.
Sports Dock will play a key role at the London 2012 Olympics, providing a base for the United States Olympic Committee, with more than 1,000 athletes, coaches and support staff using it during the games.
Denne, part of the Leadbitter Group, was awarded the design and build contract for the centre in July 2010, with work starting in earnest in September of that year.
Sports Dock is designed to provide elite facilities for UEL’s sports scholarship students as well as staff, other students and the local community – fulfilling the university’s long-term ambition to be number one for sport in London.
The new complex includes two full size sports halls and an all-weather floodlit pitch, changing rooms, a health and fitness suite, gymnasium and a main auditorium with seating for 400 spectators, as well as lecture and teaching rooms.
The buildings were designed with sustainability in mind and include green roofs, as well as photovoltaic cells for solar energy production and a biomass boiler for heating to meet a 20% target for renewable energy production. Through incorporating these features, as well as a hibernaculum for reptiles and insects, the project achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating.
The site, historically part of the Royal Albert Dock, was subjected to various surveys before construction began. These included ecological and archaeological examinations and an extensive unexploded ordnance survey to ensure safe installation of the 700 concrete piles supporting the 17,720 square metre teardrop shaped building.
Graham Brown, Managing Director of Denne, said: “We are very proud of our work on this important project, which delivers first-class sporting facilities for future sports stars as well as creating an excellent health and fitness centre for the local community.”
The project team included Denne, architect Clague, engineer Knapp Hicks, surveyor Daniel Connal Partnership and sports consultant Ball Hall.