Blairgowrie Recreation Centre

Blairgowrie Recreation Centre

Client: Perth & Kinross Council

Status: Completed 2024

Value: £36m

Type: New-build Leisure Centre

Location: Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross

Holmes Miller were commisioned by Perth & Kinross Council for the design and delivery of the new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre. The project is to deliver the physical education curriculum for the adjacent Blairgowrie High school and also providing a Passivhaus Certified leisure centre facility for use by the local community. The project features a 6-Lane 25m Competition Pool, 4-Court Sports Hall, 2-Court Gymnasium, Fitness Suite, Dance Studio, PE Classroom and associated changing facilities. 

The design proposals developed are based on full Passivhaus certification and the building is set to become the first Passivhaus certified leisure centre in Scotland on completion. Sussed Sustainability have been involved throughout design stages overseeing the design development and liaising with the Passivhaus certifiers to ensure the design is on track to achieve Passivhaus certification. The scheme seeks to offer a high quality design approach, by offering a minimalistic & contemporary, yet ordered and rational proposal.

Building Performance: Passivhaus Classic

U-Values: Enhanced (Wall 0.15 W/m2.K, Roof 0.1-0.15 W/m2.K, Ground 0.1 W/m2.K)

Airtightness: 0.345 h-1 @ 50 Pa (Target)

Heating: ASHP & MVHR

Form Factor: 1.4

The design process has also focused heavily on minimising embodied carbon being used in manufacture, transport and construction. The design utilises a Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) superstructure, exposed internally, to provide a thermally broken structural frame  to the building [further mitigating heat loss]. Whilst being responsibly sourced, this also optimises airtightness performance, and achieves up to 80% reduction in the expected C02 emission associated with the superstructure.

External works include the construction of a new all weathered synthetic hockey pitch, car parking and associated hard and soft landscaping. The project also includes the demolition of the existing recreation centre on the completion of the new centre.