www.fermacell.co.uk

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Fermacellat the heart of new Evesham Leisure Centre

Evesham Leisure Centre’s facilitiesinclude a 25 metre swimming pooland a 12 metre studio pool. Bothpools partition walls are lined withFermacell Powerpanel H2O boards,which provide an ideal base fortiling and other wall finishes. In addition, 12.5mm Fermacellboard has also been utilised as anexternal backing board for thebuilding’s cladding, as well as onmany of the interior walls.

The aesthetically pleasingbuilding – designed by projectarchitects Roberts Limbrick –features a dramatic green, copperclad curved entrance and climbingwall enclosure providing a unique,recognisable focus to the 4,500 m2

Centre, which has been developedto replace an outdated facilityopened more than 30 years ago.

Peter Head, Project Manager withWychavon District Council,commented: “The Centre opened tothe public on the 7th September.Facilities within the old building hadbecome rather tired – particularlythe swimming pool and changingspaces.

“The new facilities are first class.Apart from a slightly wider mainpool we have incorporated a studiopool, which has a moveable floor,and can be used for a wide range ofactivities including aqua aerobics,fit-swim sessions, parent and babyclasses, disability groups and foryoungsters learning to swim.”

“Most of the Centre’s upstairsinternal walls are made from acombination of Fermacell and steelstud and the contractor was able toinstall them quickly. WhenFermacell is fully prepared itprovides a very good finish.”

Facilities

The main entrance to the Centreleads directly to the main foyerspace which contains a dramaticclimbing wall, reception and caféwith views directly into the pool areaand up to the fitness suite above.The reception area leads to a multipurpose room providing facilitiesfor dance, exercise classes, softplay and functions. The swimmingpools, wet health suite, sports halland changing facilities are also onthis floor.

A large changing village withfacilities for group and accessiblechanging leads to a 25m x 5-lanelevel deck Community Pool, aseperate12m x 7m level deck studiopool, with movable floor forflexibility of use and the wet healthsuite which includes two spa pools,a steam room and sauna. Spectatoraccess to the main pool is provideddirect from the café area.

The sports hall provides 4 badminton courts and facilitiesfor basketball, five-a-side football,gymnastics, dance and exhibitions)with associated storage and drychanging. The warm colour andhigh level birch cladding give the

SPECIALIST BUILDINGFINISHES

CaseStudy November 2009

Project: Evesham Leisure Centre, Worcestershire Architect:Roberts Limbrick Main Contractors:Galliford Try

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space a high quality and attractivefeel and contrast with the blueGranwood flooring.

Next to the reception, lift and stairaccess is provided to the first floorarea which includes a fitness suitewith space for up to125 stations and three treatment rooms offeringa range of beauty treatments. A large aerobics studio with storageis also provided, together withfacilities for staff.

John McCabe, Project Manager for main contractor Galliford Try,commented: “We specified the use of Fermacell on this project.One of its strengths is that it isideally suited to the environmentbeing made from recycledmaterials and being 100%recyclable. Running along theground and first floors are 16 feetradius walls comprising steelProtektor track and Fermacell.”

Peter Newth, Associate Directorwith Roberts Limbrick commented:“Externally, the building form wasdeveloped to provide an important,evocative community leisurebuilding for Evesham, whilstrespecting its important position.There are no immediateneighbouring buildings with whichthe building must relate and,therefore, the building elevationswere designed to create a dynamic,exciting high quality and lowmaintenance building enclosurewith materials selected with regardto durability and quality ofappearance in the long term.

“We took particular care to makethe activities visible throughout thebuilding and there are opportunitiesto view into all the main spacesfrom the adjacent circulation.

“All spaces within the Centre aredesigned to be fully accessible to alland access to the main poolincludes both hoist and steppedaccess. Ceiling mounted trackwayhoists are also provided to twodedicated changing facilities.

“Many environmental features are incorporated include the use ofCHP (with waste heat utilised toheat the swimming pools),automated lighting control andventilation heat recovery. Lighttubes through the roof providenatural lighting to many internalspaces and roof mounted ‘windcatchers’ provide natural ventilationto the sports hall.

“Internally Fermacell boards (withglued joints) were used by thecontractor Galliford Try, forlightweight wall as these wouldachieve all the requirements forfire, acoustics and severe dutyrating using a single board ratherthan using the many differentcombination of boards needed withother systems. This enabledpartition walls to be constructedboth rapidly and to the requiredstandard providing a very highquality, robust finish throughout the first floor. A high standard offinish is provided throughout with a restrained but dateless colourpalette of blues, white and natural timber.”

“Wall materials are a combinationof glass, natural cedar, patinated

copper standing seam cladding,polyester powder coated claddingand framing and local colour stockfacing brick.

“It is capped by a polyester powdercoated standing seam roof andfascias colour matched to the coppercladding. The external glazing to thepool hall, café and climbing areaprovides a highly visible ‘showcase’of the internal facilities.”

The extensive parking facilities areto be landscaped to incorporateforaging routes for migratory batsand a new bat enclosure providesmitigation for habitat lost as a resultof the demolition of the formerdepot buildings. Permeable blockpaving provides attenuated run offfrom the parking areas.

Fermacell’s Area Sales Manager(South West and West Midlands)David Prout commented: “Thisproject clearly demonstrates the versatility of Fermacell boards. Not only can they be used on thecreation of internal walls, but theyare being increasingly recognisedas a cost-effective weatherboard forvented and EPS rainscreensolutions.

“In addition, the FermacellPowerpanel H2O boards are provingto be the ideal solution for wetroomapplications including: bathrooms,hospitals, hotels, kitchens, leisurecentres and, of course, swimmingpools,” he concluded.

“The Fermacell Powerpanel H2O boards areproving to be the ideal solution for wetroomapplications including: bathrooms, hospitals,hotels, kitchens, leisure centres and, of course,swimming pools.”

More than 20,000 square metres of Fermacell board has beenused in three different types of application within a superb new£10.75 leisure Centre complex built for Wychavon District Councilin Worcestershire.

For further information please contact Fermacell on 0870 609 0306 or visit www.fermacell.co.uk