Lee Valley Athletics Centre
The client's ambition was to create a world class athletics centre with a low carbon footprint. That’s a challenge for a 9700m2 space with varied occupancy levels through the days, weeks and seasons ranging from few to many people, and people who need really good conditions to train in.
The building meets the aims of the client. To date the building has earned A rating Display Energy Certification. It’s low energy with a small carbon footprint and that’s a remarkable achievement for a sports facility as big as this.
Services are run along ceiling trusses. They are designed to be tidy, accessible and do nothing to detract from the streamline feeling of spaciousness in the building.
Acoustic material in the ceiling manages sound reverberation in the space. The number of perforations needed in the acoustic material was modelled to check that the performance would meet expectations.
Concrete walls and the block for the spectators stand create thermal mass. This helps to keep the building at a comfortable temperature in summer when the concrete absorbs heat during the day and exchanges it for cool night air ready to absorb heat again the next day.
Gas heaters on the walls provide fast, efficient, localised heat and like the other services installations shown are arranged in an orderly fashion. With no lights on the track still receives plenty of daylight.
The lights are off but the space is flooded with natural light. It saves energy and gives a dynamic feel to the interior.
North light reflects off the sloped, curved soffit to create a greater feeling of volume in the space.
Aerofoil on the roof cover natural ventilation openings in the centre ceiling to stop rain entering. They are also ready for solar panels to be fitted should they be required in the future.
Lee Valley Athletic Centre is one project in our continuing story of nearly 50 years of delivering sports buildings.
For more images of Lee Valley Athletic Centre visit Max Fordham on Flickr.