A new £28 million sports building features a tower with an exciting facade design, made possible by a technically advanced UV resistant breather membrane
The new sports building at Southampton Solent University, designed by ArchitecturePLB, is under construction and scheduled to open in summer 2019. Facilities will include two sports halls with spectator seating, three fitness studios, a health and wellbeing gym, and a strength and conditioning gym, along with high-quality teaching facilities.
The sports building is the latest step in an ongoing Architecture PLB’s estate’s development plan worth £100 million, which is transforming Solvent University’s East Park Terrace campus and will regenerate the main East Park Terrace campus over a twenty-year period.
According to the university, “The building has two distinct parts, which will be clad in contrasting materials. The gym tower has a striking perforated facade which wraps the entire building, covering some windows and exposing others to reveal the activities within. At night, the covered windows will be revealed, creating a dynamic change to the look of the building.”
Providing long-term protection for the building envelope behind this creative facade is Powerlon UV FR, a technically advanced, engineered membrane with high UV resistance. Designed specifically for use behind partially open rainscreens and facades, this breather membrane is available in eight different colours for exciting design opportunities. Powerlon UV Colour FR is also flame retardant to Class 0.
The Powerlon range of building membranes also includes BBA certified wall and roof breathers, flame-retardant house wraps, vapour control layers and thermo-reflective membranes. They are manufactured by Industrial Textiles & Plastics, a North Yorkshire firm with industry-leading expertise in flame retardant and chemical resistant technology.