Lancaster University

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Time capsule marks the construction of Lancaster University’s £20m Sports Centre

10/13/2009 11:43:01

from left Athletics Union VP for Sport Sue Wynes, Professor Paul Wellings, Vice-Chancellor and Kim Montgomery, Director of Sport Lancaster University
from left Athletics Union VP for Sport Sue Wynes, Professor Paul Wellings, Vice-Chancellor and Kim Montgomery, Director of Sport Lancaster University

A time capsule was buried on the site of the University’s new £20 million Sports Centre on October 12th 2009, to mark the construction which began last month. When complete in 2011, the 6,000 sq metre centre will be open to students, staff, schools and the local community.

The capsule contains memorabilia of the historic and current sporting achievements of the University, such as pictures and a brick of the original sports centre from 1967, information about local community links with the City Council and schools, trophies and a programme from the Roses Tournament - one of the biggest annual inter-varsity sports tournaments in the country, held between Lancaster and York .

The design and development process of the new centre, which will be 30 percent bigger than the University’s existing sports facility, has taken two years to ensure a high-quality design which shows consideration to the surrounding area.

A new eight lane pool will include a ‘floating floor’ which can vary the depth of the pool and the new climbing wall has been specially designed with input from renowned mountaineer and Lancaster University Chancellor Sir Christian Bonington.

As well as many other facilities, the new centre will also have health and fitness suites, badminton and squash courts.

The building has been designed to achieve the BREEAM 'Excellent' rating, which sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design.

Kim Montgomery, Director of Sport at Lancaster University said: “The new centre is going to be a fantastic facility for everyone to use.”

The contractors are GallifordTry who have also won the contract to build the four-storey Waterside development on campus.

The sports centre forms part of the university’s ongoing investment programme in residential, academic and social facilities.