Designed by Owen Ellis Architects, the building provides classrooms, changing facilities, gym, bar, outdoor seating area, conference rooms and 14 twin bedrooms.
The building has been designed to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’ and energy performance rating of ‘A’. This has been achieved through thoughtful design, a careful selection of construction techniques and materials which include cedar cladding, natural stone gabions, natural ventilation, low water sanitary ware, super insulation and a biomass boiler. Services design was by AECOM. Project Engineer, Anthony Spiers, said, “The brief was to make the water centre one of the most environmentally responsible buildings of its type; consequently, much of the engineering design was aimed at reducing the impact on the environment.”
From the rear, the bulk of the building is hidden by an extensive green roof, whilst the lakeside elevation is heavily glazed to take advantage of the lakeside location and Crosby Coastal Park. Particular emphasis has been given to facilities for disabled users. “As part of the scheme, a new jetty has been constructed complete with winches to allow disabled users to access the lake,” said project Architect Neil Hutchinson.
The centre was funded by Sefton Council, the Government Office for the North West (European Regional Development Fund), Mersey Waterfront, Sport England and the Learning and Skills Council.
AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, water and government with approximately 45,000 employees around the world.
