Southampton Solent University Sports Complex

Our approach

The complex, which was procured through the Southern Construction Framework (SCF), includes two gyms, fitness and spin studios, physiotherapy facilities, seminar areas, and teaching rooms.

A steel frame construction, the pattern of the striking perforated facade that wraps the entire building is based on an abstraction of the pre-war street layout of the surrounding area.

The complex has two sports halls; a multi-purpose sports hall that can be used for basketball, futsal, badminton, netball, wheelchair rugby and volleyball; and the performance sports hall, which is specifically for basketball and is where Team Solent Kestrels' home games will be held.

Achieving the BREEAM Excellent environmental performance rating was incredibly important to the university. In order to meet this, the sports complex has a range of low carbon technologies that complement the overall estates strategy and support a high quality internal environment.

Energy demands were minimised through use of a ‘fabric first’ approach, LED lighting, and natural ventilation across the car park and sports halls.

Drawing on the local geothermal district heating network reduces carbon emissions by nearly 50 per cent compared to natural gas boilers, while photovoltaic panels mounted on the sports hall roof provide an additional source of renewable energy.

Greywater is harvested from showers, treated and re-used. These measures combine to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 per cent, helping to achieve an EPC A Rating and the BREEAM Excellent score.

The project diverted 99 per cent of waste from landfill.

Social impact

With a number of the project team being Solent alumni, it was even more important than usual for this project to have a positive social impact. To this end, 86% of project spend was with small and medium enterprises, and over 1,800 hours were volunteered by the site team.

In addition, the site team gave presentations on BIM and virtual reality modelling to around 100 students at the university over the course of three days.

Morgan Sindall Construction are extremely collaborative and work well as a team. They communicate effectively and share the common goals of the project; this ensured the result of the finished facility. The work was of good quality and they worked well with the consultants and wider team which has benefited the project.
Kevin Walls, Architect and Senior Project Manager, Corporate Programme Management Office, Solent University