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Eton College Sports and Aquatic Centre

Redevelopment of Eton College’s sporting facilities, providing its students with the highest quality amenities commensurate with the status of the college.

Swimming pool with diving boards, wooden roof overhead, full-length windows at end of pool

Services (7)

Location

Eton, United Kingdom

Client

Eton College

Architect

Hopkins Architects

The Eton Sports and Aquatics Centre (ESAC) provides a 25m indoor swimming pool, a four court multi-purpose sports hall and associated spectator, changing and administration facilities. The pool incorporates a movable floor to increase flexibility, allowing the pool to be used for swimming, water polo and teaching. The multi-purpose sports hall is designed to facilitate examination use by the school.

The design incorporates the latest (but proven) technology, but not at the expense of simple solutions like natural ventilation. Glulam beams, spanning up to 31m, have been chosen for the roof structure to support a green roof and PV panels. Timber was selected not only for its low embodied CO2 but also for its durability in a swimming pool environment.

Cundall has provided a full range of engineering disciplines resulting in a beautifully designed and engineered building using a wide pallet of materials. These have been skilfully integrated to link the outside gardens with the interior and allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the heart of the spaces.

Key fact

The project entailed several complex structural challenges, including a sizable basement sitting below the water table

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Key fact

The sports facilities are collectively covered by a stunning Glulam roof structure with brickwork and glazing infills

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Key fact

The creation of large window openings at ground floor level allows for natural light and creates a visual connection with the landscaped grounds

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Barney Jordan sitting on arm of sofa with marble background

Barney Jordan

Partner, Structures

View bio

This project came with a number of exacting challenges: from planning restrictions to difficult ground conditions. The Cundall design team collaborated superbly to deliver this beautiful building where the engineering is almost invisibly integrated within the overall building aesthetics.

Awards

Winner

UK Project

Structural Engineering Awards - South Eastern Counties

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