WORK is underway on the new £36 million Blairgowrie Recreation Centre, which has been described as Scotland’s first ultra-low energy swimming pool and leisure centre.
Designed by Holmes Miller, the centre has been designed to meet Passivhaus standards. Due for completion in late 2024/early 2025, the building will become the first swimming pool and leisure development in Scotland – and only the second in the UK – to achieve Passivhaus certification.
BAM UK is the main contractor, with BakerHicks providing civil and structural engineering services. Rybka is behind building services on the project, with Sussed Sustainability confirmed as the Passivhaus designer.
A replacement for the Perthshire town’s current 41-year old facility, the development is being funded by Perth and Kinross Council and delivered through hub East Central Scotland.
As well as a six-lane competition swimming pool, the centre will feature a games hall, sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite and classroom space and an external all-weather sports pitch. It will deliver the physical education curriculum for Blairgowrie High School, while also providing leisure facilities to the local community.
The design features exposed wooden beams that create a ‘soft and welcoming’ space said to be markedly different from traditional designs for civic leisure facilities. Spaces have been orientated to ensure that any heat gain from sunlight will be focused on the pool area, helping to maintain a constant temperature in the sports suite.
Yida Zhou, project architect at Holmes Miller, said, “Perth & Kinross Council have a clear vision of reaching carbon zero, and working on this project has been a brilliant opportunity to help them achieve that, through cutting-edge sustainable design. As Scotland’s first leisure centre designed to Passivhaus standards, hopefully this project will inspire more councils and investors to adopt this approach, given the significant carbon and revenue savings that it makes possible.”
Gary, Bushnell, chief executive at hub East Central Scotland, added, “We have worked closely with Perth & Kinross Council throughout the development of this project and we look forward to delivering a high quality sport and leisure facility that will serve the community for many years to come.”
