Paralympic legend Lauren Steadman MBE will officially open the University of Portsmouth's Ravelin Sports Centre this week.
The landmark building for the University and for the City of Portsmouth will be opened on Friday 10 March at 1pm by Lauren, who is a former University student and sports scholar.
The design of the Sports Centre reflects its parkland setting and it includes a host of high-quality facilities including an eight-court sports hall, eight lane 25m swimming pool, 175 station fitness suite, multipurpose studios, squash courts, a climbing and bouldering wall rising from the basement through the building and a ski simulator.
The Centre includes an eight lane 25m swimming pool.
This is a truly exceptional Sports Centre with first-class, high-quality facilities, designed and constructed to the highest specifications of sustainability. It's tremendously exciting that our students, staff and community can enjoy one of the best sports facilities in the UK.
In addition, the building is one of the UK's most sustainable sports centres. The design received a top rating of 'Outstanding' from BREEAM UK, the world's leading sustainability assessment for buildings, and is set to achieve a BREEAM outstanding rating for its construction. The swimming pool is naturally lit, with natural ventilation used where possible to minimise energy usage with water conservation measures in place such as the pool water being reused to flush the toilets. A wildflower amphitheatre events space has developed biodiversity in the surrounding areas.
Paul Tilley, Director of Sport and Recreation at the University, said: "This is a truly exceptional Sports Centre with first-class, high-quality facilities, designed and constructed to the highest specifications of sustainability. It's tremendously exciting that our students, staff and community can enjoy one of the best sports facilities in the UK."
The design also involved improvements to Ravelin Park, including an entrance plaza between the sports building and the University Library, new pedestrian routes, a wildflower meadow and an urban orchard, more trees in the park and opening up views to the historic buildings on Museum Road.
