The shift towards sustainable and adaptive design in leisure centres

by Chris Wotherspoon, Associate Director - Holmes Miller

The Shift Towards Sustainable and Adaptive Design in Leisure Centres

‘Traditional’ sport and leisure facilities are a building typology unlike any other, offering immeasurable benefits to communities by promoting health, well-being, and social cohesion. However, it’s no secret that operating these facilities can be extremely challenging for local authorities, leisure trusts, and independent operators, as evidenced with several high-profile closures or threats of closure in recent years.

The recent ‘Review of Leisure and Culture Services’, presents a somewhat bleak picture of the existing estate, concluding that funding for sport and leisure has decreased by 25% in real terms between 2010/11 and 2022/23, and that these long-term funding reductions, combined with aging buildings with significant energy demands, shifting user expectations, and rising costs, have forced operators to confront difficult decisions about the future viability of their facilities.

To overcome these challenges, our approach to sport and leisure breaks from tradition and embraces new models that place more focus on active well-being, user demand, and environmental efficiency to create facilities that are fit-for-purpose, commercially viable and sustainable whilst also providing meaningful value to the communities they serve.

The Transition from Physical Health to Active Well-Being

Over the past two decades, a growing emphasis on health and wellness has reshaped the design and purpose of sport and leisure facilities, evolving from a singular focus on physical health to a much broader concept of active well-being. Coupled with ever-changing participation statistics and a focus on inclusion, this shift encourages operators to diversify and cater to a wider range of services and people. Successful centres are now blending holistic programmes that incorporate wider health and community services alongside traditional amenities.

The Allander Leisure Centre & Adult Day Centre for East Dunbartonshire Council exemplifies this approach, creating synergies between sport, culture, additional needs support and mental health. Providing a welcoming, user-centric building at the heart of the community. The building is a direct product of a robust consultation process, featuring co-design, to ensure that the community have helped shape the active-wellbeing hub with inclusivity as its guiding principle. Combining day care and leisure amenities, the facility has broken down barriers and opened new opportunities for individuals living with dementia, autism, and physical disabilities. Moreover, its layout reflects evolving trends in sport, featuring multi-purpose recreational spaces designed to complement one another and adapt to seasonal change.

By focusing on active well-being, the Allander not only enhances traditional physical health offerings - evidenced by increased participation metrics and memberships - but also fosters a sense of purpose among users, creating spaces where they feel comfortable and welcome. This holistic approach cultivates healthier, happier communities.

The Drive Toward Net Zero

As a practice, environmentally conscious design, and the drive toward Net Zero significantly influence our approach to all projects, particularly sports and leisure facilities which have inherently high energy demands. Performance standards like the Net Zero Public Building Standard and the Passivhaus Standard have also had a significant influence on how we design, promoting efficient form factors, high-performance insulation, airtight construction, and energy-efficient heating and ventilation systems, which can lead to substantial reductions in both carbon emissions and operational costs.

Our design of Blairgowrie Recreation Centre for Perth and Kinross Council, in collaboration with Sussed Sustainability, epitomises energy conscious design. Developed as the first Passivhaus-certified leisure centre in Scotland, the new facility features a six-lane, 25-meter competition pool, four-court sports hall, two-court gymnasium, fitness suite, studios, and associated facilities. The centre will have a significantly reduced energy demand, achieving a 75% reduction in space heating requirements compared with traditional facilities. Controlled temperature zones for user comfort, alongside smart technology for real-time energy management, are also employed to enhance energy conservation.

Embodied carbon is also considered in the manufacturing, transportation, and construction processes. The building will utilise a Cross Laminated Timber superstructure, exposed internally to create a thermally broken structural frame that enhances airtightness and mitigates heat loss. This responsibly sourced material is projected to reduce CO2 emissions associated with the superstructure by up to 80%. Additionally, the pool area features granular filtration technology to minimise chemical use, significantly improving air quality. This comprehensive design approach sets a new standard for sustainable sports and leisure facilities.

The Emergence of Adaptive Reuse

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sports and leisure facilities; traditional buildings are often unique and expressive, reflecting the architectural styles, construction methods, and popular sports and activities of their time. However, they share a common purpose: providing spaces for individuals, groups, and families to come together, have fun, share experiences, and create lasting memories. Consequently, when these facilities face closure, the community often protests, whilst refurbishment is usually warmly embraced. However, successful refurbishments do not merely replicate existing features; they must adapt to changing user needs and expectations, presenting opportunities to reimagine how redundant spaces can be repurposed. Key to this is improving the financial sustainability of facilities by increasing centre membership through offering better and more varied facilities for all communities.

The Citadel for South Ayrshire Council serves as a prime example of breathing new life into an existing building to create a vibrant hub. We were inspired to preserve its beloved character while modernising its design to meet the local community's needs. The refurbishment includes a new entrance and reception area, updated kitchen and servery, dry changing rooms, studios, a café, spa, family active hub, fitness gym, party rooms, and a first aid room. Our goal is to create an accessible recreational space where visitors can gather, relax, and enjoy a variety of high-quality leisure facilities.

As we navigate the evolving landscape of sport and leisure centres, embracing innovative design, sustainability, and inclusivity is essential. By prioritising active well-being, adopting environmentally conscious practices, and exploring adaptive reuse, we create lively spaces that meet the needs of communities. These facilities not only enhance physical health but also foster social connections and a sense of belonging. Through good design, we can reimagine the future of sport and leisure, ensuring vital community assets thrive for generations to come.

Allander Leisure Centre - Adult Day Centre

All, BlogCraig Heap5 December 2024