New Sports Centre for Christ’s College
The Upper West Sports Centre at Christ’s College has reached completion. The College hosted a preview event on Sunday, 26th May, where donors were given a tour of the facilities and an opportunity to meet with the design team.
This innovative facility embodies the strong connection between physical and mental wellbeing, fostering personal development and social values through a comprehensive sports programme.
In response to the College’s sports mission of providing ‘a world-class environment that develops a lifelong passion for all sports and physical activities’ the multi-purpose facility provides a dynamic environment for teaching a full spectrum of sport, physical education, and personal health and wellbeing programmes. The centre features two full-sized basketball courts, a rowing machine room, a strength and conditioning gym, dedicated teaching spaces, administrative offices, and amenity areas. Designed to cater to both entry-level and elite athletes, the centre offers a unique platform for students to excel.
Occupying a prominent location that overlooks the Christchurch Botanic Gardens to the south as well as bookends the College campus to the west, the new facility responds to both the public and campus context. The southerly aspect allows the main gymnasium to be fully glazed towards the Botanic Gardens, creating a strong visual connection to the landscape and bringing in natural light and ventilation into the heart and main space of the building.
Facing the campus, the new sports centre defines the edge of the Upper West sports field and responds to the rich architectural vernacular, history and materiality of the campus buildings.
The new facility further strengthens the College’s unique sense of place. It offers a new focal point for the College community, providing an extensive range of sporting opportunities and wellbeing initiatives for its students as well as the wider community.
