Becontree Heath Leisure Centre
Subscribe now to instantly view this image
Subscribe to the Architects’ Journal (AJ) for instant access to the AJ Buildings Library, an online database of nearly 2,000 exemplar buildings in photographs, plans, elevations and details.
Already a subscriber? Sign in
Girts Gailans Download Original
Combined wet and dry leisure centre with a 25 metre square pool, learner pool, four court multi-sports hall, fitness suite, two dance studios, multi-use community space, café and kids play area
The two-storey centre replaces both the Dagenham Swimming Pool and Wood Lane Sports Centre, and combines the facilities into one building.
Situated at a busy road junction the building design hugs the site boundary with a series of angular facades created to provide a pictorial statement from every approach.
The building materials were selected with this concept in mind and also create a sense of unconformity with their quirky angles and shapes.
The plan is based around an internal street that directs building users to a central hub where the reception and café areas are found. On the ground floor the centre's wet and dry facilities are arranged on either side of a secondary corridor. The gym, and related changing facilities, and the spectator seating for the pool are located on the first floor.
The fully accessible facility recieved a certification of excellent from the visual and audible inspectors.
Data
- Begun: Jan 2010
- Completed: May 2011
- Floor area: 5,600m2
- Sector: Sports and leisure
- Total cost: £23M
- Procurement: Design & Build/Two stage procurement
- CO2 Emissions: 139kg/m2/year
- Address: Becontree Heath Leisure Centre, Althorne Way, Dagenham, RM10 7FH, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: S&P Architects
- Client: London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
- Structural engineer: Furness Partnership
- Services engineer: Van Zyl & De Villiers
- Quantity surveyor: Davis Langdon
- Planning supervisor: Potter Raper
- Main contractor: Leadbitter Construction
- Project manager: Stace
