AHR completes multi-cultural, state-of-the-art leisure facility

AHR has completed a new 12,500m², £30m leisure centre situated in the civic heart of Huddersfield.

The new, purpose-built centre provides an extensive range of wet and dry sporting facilities unrivalled in the region. Huddersfield Leisure Centre is a sporting venue designed to address the modern day needs of a multi-cultural society. ABC+D finds out more…

The Huddersfield Leisure Centre provides a high specification facility for national, local and community users.

It includes a 25m national short course competition pool; a trainer/ studio pool with a movable floor, which can be fully screened for sensitive groups; a leisure pool with interactive water features, a water flume and sidewinder; squash courts, a 15m climbing wall, a bouldering wall, twelve-court sports halls; and a large gym, featuring fitness studios, a cycle studio and combat room.

^{The centre’s leisure pool features a host of interactive features including a sidewinder and water flume.}

Ancillary accommodation includes meeting rooms, offices, changing facilities and a large kitchen servery and café. An intelligible and easily navigated layout defines the wet and dry zones which have been separated by a central, top-lit double height atrium.

The design process included a series of extensive engagements with the building operators, the local community, existing sports clubs and national sporting bodies.

Community artist, Stella Corrall, was commissioned to produce bespoke artwork for the main reception foyer and café. AHR’s in-house team developed an interior design concept seen as energetic and vibrant.

This is evident throughout the centre by the display of wall graphics and a fresh, lively colour palette.

Sue Eyre, project architect at AHR, said: “The new leisure centre for Huddersfield has been designed as a direct response to the clients’ requirements for a variety of sporting activities to suit a modern multicultural society and to meet the need for a prominent civic building which would enhance and contribute to the town centre.”

The facility exceeds all statutory requirements for disabled use and is one of the most accessible leisure facilities in the country. It is able to cater for the wide demographic base of the region including minority female swimming groups.

It will be a sustainable asset, an environmentally low-impact solution based on a socially driven and economically sustainable brief close to public transport hubs.

The prominent town centre location, strategic positioning and high quality design of the building ensure that it contributes to the urban and social regeneration of Huddersfield.

Hazel Francis, general manager of Kirklees Active Leisure (KAL) said: “KAL is delighted with the new Leisure Centre, which has been very well received by KAL’s customers, as well as by the staff working in the building.

The Leisure Centre is, without doubt, the finest leisure facility in West Yorkshire and one of the best in the UK. It’s great to see new customers, who have never visited a leisure facility before, coming in to see what we can offer to improve their health and wellbeing. The open layout and top quality facilities are certainly encouraging people to come in to visit and to then become that bit more active, which is great.”

AHR also provided land surveying, brief management and CDMC services.