Life Centre design unveiled
by Helen Patenall | 06 Mar 2009
Archial — formerly SMC Charter Architects — has unveiled its designs for the £46.5m Life Centre in Plymouth.
A full planning application has been submitted to the city council for the massive leisure scheme, which will be located in the city’s main parkland.
Paul Weston, director of Archial, said: “This building is a major architectural statement in Central Park and will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the area. The centre brings together under one roof a wide range of leisure and sporting facilities for all members of the community.”
It will boast a ten-lane, 50-metre swimming pool with moveable floors, as well as a leisure pool with a beach-style entry, a bubble pool and two flume rides.
A 15-metre, all-weather climbing facility with an aerial assault course will feature on the exterior of the building.
Additional amenities will include an eight-lane indoor bowling arena and a twelve-court multi-use sports hall for badminton, five-a-side football, basketball, netball and trampolining.
The health and fitness suite will house 150 workstations, a sauna and a steamroom, as well as a youth gym.
Multi-purpose areas will also provide space for dance and martial arts, a crèche and soft play activities, complemented by a café open to all park visitors.
The project —funded by the council and the University of Plymouth (£2.5m) — was designed in cooperation with engineering consultants ARUP, council officers and more than 50 stakeholder groups, including Sport England and the Plymouth Sports Forum.
Council leader Vivien Pengelly said: “The design team has worked closely with lots of focus groups to ensure that the Life Centre meets the leisure needs of the whole community — from toddlers to the elderly, families, schools and sports clubs.”
The planning application will now undergo a 21-day planning consultation period with public displays at venues across the city. If approved, a contractor will be appointed in September and work will start on site in late autumn.
As part of the scheme, the council aims to build a new full-size ice rink with a spectator area. Expressions of interest will be sought later in the year.
Both the Life Centre and the ice rink are scheduled to open in September 2011.
Archial — formerly SMC Charter Architects — has unveiled its designs for the £46.5m Life Centre in Plymouth. A full planning application has been submitted to the city council for the massive leisure scheme, which will be located in the city’s main parkland. Paul Weston, director of Archial, said: “This building is a major architectural statement in Central Park and will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the
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