Despite local authorities struggling with budget cuts in recent years, there has been a steady stream of new swimming pools being opened. But are good design and quality environments being sacrificed, asks Mike Hall, sports partner at FaulknerBrowns Architects
By Mike Hall | Published in Sports Management 2014 issue 3
Of the many casualties of the recession, there is no doubt that the skill- and resource-base of local authority leisure departments have been severely affected.
Despite this, I was pleasantly surprised to see recent figures indicating that the number of new local authority swimming pools coming on stream has been steadily increasing over the last eight years, despite the recession. There were 14 new facilities completed last year, although there were steady declines in the education and commercial sectors.
These completed pools have been procured through a variety of frameworks and public/private sector initiatives. One of the key drivers, however, remains the desire for local authorities to reduce and, indeed, where possible, to remove the running cost deficit associated with leisure facilities from the books altogether. In the light of the diminished local authority skill base, there's a real concern that these facilities may become involved in a race to the bottom, without checks, balances and quality of thinking across all aspects of procurement and design.
Looking forward, we may see some of the skills and resource challenges being addressed by cities and regions aggregating the way new facilities are procured and bundling operational contracts into a larger critical mass with associated economies of scale. The quality of dialogue and debate across the continuum of design, build and operate is, however, still pretty poor. There also remain outdated preconceptions about the benefits good design can bring to the process.
Our collective goal as architects is to produce quality environments that engage people and encourage a healthy lifestyle. To achieve success, a strong social agenda needs to go hand in hand with efficiency, flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
One recent initiative is the resurrection of the RIBA Client Forum in the Sports and Leisure sector. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland set a strong example with an excellent sporting component to its recent annual conference. While the Client Forum has got off to a slow start, it's an opportunity to engage clients and designers with topical issues. It'd be good to see more of these sessions integrated into sports seminars, conferences and so on. There are reasons to be positive about the upward trend of new facilities. However, the debate on the level of design needs to move forward too.
Despite local authorities struggling with budget cuts in recent years, there has been a steady stream of new swimming pools being opened. But are good design and quality environments being sacrificed, asks Mike Hall, sports partner at FaulknerBrowns Architects
By Mike Hall | Published in Sports Management 2014 issue 3
Of the many casualties of the recession, there is no doubt that the skill- and resource-base of local authority leisure departments have been severely affected.
Despite this, I was pleasantly surprised to see recent figures indicating that the number of new local authority swimming pools coming on stream has been steadily increasing over the last eight years, despite the recession. There were 14 new facilities completed last year, although there were steady declines in the education and commercial sectors.
These completed pools have been procured through a variety of frameworks and public/private sector initiatives. One of the key drivers, however, remains the desire for local authorities to reduce and, indeed, where possible, to remove the running cost deficit associated with leisure facilities from the books altogether. In the light of the diminished local authority skill base, there's a real concern that these facilities may become involved in a race to the bottom, without checks, balances and quality of thinking across all aspects of procurement and design.
Looking forward, we may see some of the skills and resource challenges being addressed by cities and regions aggregating the way new facilities are procured and bundling operational contracts into a larger critical mass with associated economies of scale. The quality of dialogue and debate across the continuum of design, build and operate is, however, still pretty poor. There also remain outdated preconceptions about the benefits good design can bring to the process.
Our collective goal as architects is to produce quality environments that engage people and encourage a healthy lifestyle. To achieve success, a strong social agenda needs to go hand in hand with efficiency, flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
One recent initiative is the resurrection of the RIBA Client Forum in the Sports and Leisure sector. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland set a strong example with an excellent sporting component to its recent annual conference. While the Client Forum has got off to a slow start, it's an opportunity to engage clients and designers with topical issues. It'd be good to see more of these sessions integrated into sports seminars, conferences and so on. There are reasons to be positive about the upward trend of new facilities. However, the debate on the level of design needs to move forward too.
OMA has completed a major transformation of New York's New Museum, creating a larger
cultural campus that combines expanded exhibition spaces with learning, performance,
hospitality and public programming.
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
San Antonio Zoo has reported a US$283 million economic impact for 2025, following a decade-
long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef
education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
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