£9m SportPark extension awarded major environmental accreditation

SportPark Pavilion 4 at Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park – a major extension to the existing onsite facilities valued at £9m – has achieved prestigious Passivhaus Classic accreditation.

The accolade means Pavilion 4, which will house the highest concentration of sports organisations in the country, has achieved some of the highest energy efficiency and comfort standards in the world. It is the first Passivhaus development on the Loughborough campus.

The development has already supported over 400 jobs during the construction phase.

Energy efficient features include triple glazed windows, an enhanced thermal efficient airtight building fabric, external solar shading, a highly efficient heat and ventilation system and solar panels covering the roof of the building.

Martin Channell, assistant director of capital projects and programme management at Loughborough University, said: “When SportPark was completed in 2009, it achieved BREEAM Excellent which put it in the top 10% of environmentally rated non-domestic buildings. Pavilion 4’s Passivhaus accreditation sets the benchmark for quality and low energy building efficiency across the University estate to achieve our zero-carbon agenda for 2050.

“This outstanding achievement is testament to the commitment of our industry partners Henry Brothers Construction, David Morley Architects, Beyond Carbon Associates and many sub-contractors. Now, we can monitor the efficiency between the original pavilions and the new expansion.”

The university says SportPark will be a unique “living lab” which will significantly enhance its building energy research.

Joel Callow, director of Beyond Carbon Associates, said: “The construction team has worked closely with Loughborough’s researchers to ensure highly detailed measurement of the performance of the building over the coming years.

“This will allow us to draw down even more data on energy efficiency, giving vital feedback. This information can then be used to inform the design of the next generation of zero carbon buildings at the University.”

Ian Taylor, managing director of lead contractor Henry Brothers Construction, said: “We are proud to have completed SportPark Pavilion 4 to help Loughborough University to decarbonise its estate. This is the latest of several successful schemes we have delivered for the University which adds to the increasing portfolio of sustainable buildings that Henry Brothers Construction has delivered, also aligned with our own journey to net zero.”

The scheme is being delivered by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) as part of the Getting Building Fund. The LLEP has put £6m towards the project, with further funding support being provided by Loughborough Town Deal.

Andy Reed OBE, LLEP co-chair, said: “Sustainability is a pillar of our economic growth strategy and, in funding SportPark Pavilion 4, we enabled development of a superb building at the highest standards of energy efficiency.”