Arena scoops top prize at construction awards

Middleton Arena

Middleton Arena has been awarded the ‘Places for People’ Award at the North West Construction Awards in Southport.

The arena, which took 65 weeks to build, opened in January this year as part of the major regeneration of Middleton town centre funded by Tesco plc. The resulting design has become a local landmark and a popular destination for residents.

Projects shortlisted in the ‘Places for People’ Award category must have an outcome of creating new spaces for people. Targeted at projects that tackle issues such as crime, health, sport or education, it also recognises the contribution to physical and/or social regeneration and the re-use of existing land.

Andy Zuntz, Executive Director, Rochdale Council said: “We’re starting to see more development in the town now, and the future is looking good.

"The arena is a wonderful facility for everyone.

"Built on the site of a former gas works and incinerator facility, the project has brought 1.3 hectares of derelict town centre into beneficial use. It has also brought forward an additional 2.5 hectares of land for regeneration with a Tesco Extra store to be completed in 2010 that will also boost the local economy and provide much needed employment.”

The new Middleton Arena – which includes a 90 station fitness centre, 4 court sports hall, swimming pool with viewing gallery, dance studio, squash courts, youth gym, 550 seat auditorium and licensed bars - has replaced three separate and outdated facilities with a single structure.

In its first three months of operation it attracted over 200,000 visitors, doubling participation in swimming and increasing its gym membership by around 500%.

It was officially launched last month by Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave.

Architect Peter Jenkins from BDP said: “From the start we wanted the Middleton Arena to be different and unlike a normal leisure centre. I wanted to give the town something that is really eye catching and iconic, and I think this is a bit special.

"The design concept maximises the benefits of the complex brief, creating innovative spaces. The different functions of the building are stacked together like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle, creating a foyer space where changes in activity and levels are designed to avoid the claustrophobic, dark corridors of a stereotypical municipal facility.
"Internal and external visual connections are encouraged between the different parts of the building, allowing users of different facilities to gain an understanding of the wide range of activities within.”

Link4Life Managing Director, Craig McAteer, whose organisation was responsible for transferring facilities to the arena, and developing services since, said: “During the development of the building, extensive discussions were held with local interest groups and consultations were held with local residents and the users of existing facilities. Capturing the needs and knowledge of local people was critical to the success of the finished product.

"The resultant building is a testament to the way in which the team worked together to produce a building which is intended to provide many years of use to the local community.”

John Hudson, Chief Executive of Rochdale Development Agency added: “The Middleton Arena is a success story in the ongoing regeneration of the borough and we are pleased that the transformation of this derelict site into a striking facility for the whole community has been recognised by the construction industry.

"A number of partners worked to secure funding from Tesco to bring the arena to Middleton, and Rochdale Development Agency is proud to have been involved in driving this project forward in those early days.”