Waddon Leisure Centre offers a competition status pool, learners’ pool, spectator seating gallery, multi-purpose sports hall, dance studios, gymnasium, OFSTED registered crèche, café and community meeting facilities. All facilities are compliant with the latest Sport England design guidance and are in line with the joint Sport England/CABE publication ‘Better Places for Sports’.
The hard-landscaped plaza elevates the buildings ‘civic’ status to create a recognisably distinct ‘sense of place’ which, in conjunction with the adjacent residential block, created a strong sense of local identity. The geometry of the landscape in this space reflects the language of the building, drawing visitors towards the entrance. On arrival at reception, the facilities immediately reveal themselves to the user, with all principle facilities visible from the double-height foyer space.
The building’s architecture responds to contrasting environments of its immediate context, using a dynamic series of folding and intersecting plains. The elevations provide a considered composition of zinc, glass and coloured rendered panels to provide the transition in scale. The visual connectivity throughout the design provides a legible building easily understand by its users. This combined with the visual expression of movement and activity within the building provides a stimulating visitor experience.
Paralympics gold medallist David Weir CBE opened Waddon Leisure Centre on 29 January 2013.
Client: Croydon Council | Services: Architecture; Interior Design | Size: 4,300m²
