A leading centre for sporting excellence designed by Architects, Archial, who worked to create a building that would be a focus of community pride and a major landmark within the city. The largest leisure facility in the region was built to house the only 10-lane, 50 metre competition pool, leisure pool and world class diving facility in the South West. This project was funded by Plymouth council with an overall value of £46.5 million.
Archial was appointed as Lead Design Consultant to develop the concept in accordance with the brief. Archial’s extensive and detailed sports and leisure project experience was instrumental in winning and successfully detailing the scheme “We were extremely excited about working on such a prestigious high profile sports project,” says Director and Head of Archial’s Sport and Leisure Sector Chris Wood, “Plymouth Life Centre was one of the largest construction projects in the South West at the time. Strata Tiles were specified as we had worked together on previous projects in the past. Strata’s assistance in the initial design phase proved very useful especially in providing samples, design and site installation advice.”
It was essential that Archial specified suitable tiles for the main pool, leisure pool, diving pool, reception, café, toilets and wet and dry change areas, not only providing a great look but also taking in to consideration adequate slip resistance and maintenance costs. Buchtal’s Hydrotect tiles Chroma II and Quantum were chosen for their great appearance and innovative, easy cleaning and air purifying properties. The Hydrotect surface is created during the manufacturing process and creates a surface that allows water to freely move behind dirt. The revolutionary coating lasts the life of the tile and also protects against bacteria and purifies the air we breathe – 1000sqm of Hydrotect tiles provides the equivalent oxygen levels as 70 deciduous trees.
Archial was extremely pleased with the finished result, Chris Wood stated “The project was very challenging in coordinating all the various requirements, with a very high level of stakeholder consultation with the likes of the Team GB Diving coaches, British Swimming and British Octopush Association, but the finished project exceeds both our expectations and those of our client.”
Plymouth Life Centre is an official pre-Olympic Games training camp for the Canadian diving and Lithuanian swimming teams as well Ghana’s Olympic team.