As well as ensuring that the Physical Education Department at the University of Cambridge provides its sporting community with world-class facilities, the new University of Cambridge Sports Centre has been built with sustainability as a top priority.

When phase 1 of the building started, the aim was to receive a BREEAM Very Good target. BREEAM assesses scientifically-based criteria covering a range of issues in categories that evaluate energy and water use, health and wellbeing, pollution, transport, materials, waste, ecology and management processes. Buildings are then rated and certified on a scale of ‘Pass’, ‘Good’, ‘Very Good’, ‘Excellent’ and ‘Outstanding’. The Physical Education Department was then delighted to receive an ‘Excellent’ rating for the Sports Centre, helped in part by the domed zinc folded seam roof with ‘gills’ – northlights with motorised, glazed louvres which provide natural light and ventilation to the main hall. The roof also supports a large quantity of photovoltaics to assist the renewable energy contribution on site.

By setting sustainability benchmarks and targets that continue to stay ahead of regulatory requirements – and by encouraging the use of innovative means of achieving these targets – BREEAM drives greater sustainability and innovation in the built environment. We are very proud that our wonderful new Sports Centre is a part of this.

John Woods, the University Project Manager responsible for the construction of Phase 1 of the Sports Centre commented “ The University takes sustainability issues very seriously and is extremely pleased that the sustainability features incorporated into the design and construction phases of the Sports Centre have enabled the globally recognised BREEAM rating to be increased from Very Good to Excellent”.