A leisure centre fit for the 21st century

A leisure centre fit for the 21st century

14 May 2014

THE new Down Leisure Centre is being billed as “absolutely fabulous” and a facility people across the district will be proud of.

Two weeks after planning permission was secured for the new £13.65m building, the man who will oversee one of the biggest spends in the local authority’s 41-year history has no doubt the new leisure complex will have the “wow factor.”

Mr. Michael Lipsett said no expense has been spared to provide the three-storey complex and argues there will be no better designed leisure centre in Northern Ireland when it opens for business in 2016.

The Director of Recreation and Community Services believes the new building will also make a “bold statement” about Downpatrick as people arrive into the town and view the imposing building which will be flooded throughout with natural light.

“There are a lot of good leisure centres out there and we have looked at many of them, taking the best of each and putting it into our new building,” explained Mr. Lipsett.

“This is very much a 21st century building. We have deliberately taken our time to design this new building and have no doubt people will be delighted when they see what it has to offer.

“The brief handed to the design consultants was that the new leisure centre must look absolutely beautiful and they have delivered. The people of the district will be very proud of this building.”

Mr. Lipsett said consultants were asked to minimise the footprint of the new building but maximise what the building can do and is delighted with the final design they came up, with the blueprint also influenced by the public’s input.

Modern technology features heavily in the new building with the 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool constructed on the ground floor. In fact, there are two pools, with the second dedicated for teaching. Not only that, the depth of the pool can be adjusted via a moveable floor.

The maximum depth of the teaching pool will be two metres which can also be used by toddlers, beginners, groups and utilised for lifesaving classes.

When this particular pool isn’t required, the floor level can be raised to the ground level surrounding the main pool, which will be dedicated for swimming.

Changing facilities and staff accommodation are also located on the ground floor alongside one of three dedicated dance studios linked to the main fitness suite on the top floor.

There is also an extensive use of glass in keeping with the wishes people expressed when the public was asked for its view on how the new multi-million pound facility should look and what it should provide.

The main feature of the second floor is a four-court sports hall which will be slightly bigger than a similar facility at the Ballymote Sport and Well-Being Centre in Downpatrick. The current Down Leisure Centre has only a three-court sports hall.

There will be a handball court in the new centre which can be adapted by moving an internal wall to provide a squash court. Dedicated changing facilities are also available on the second floor with another dance studio.

The third floor features a 100-station fitness suite plus dance studio and 35 bikes for spin classes.

The new centre also features an ultra-modern spa, sauna room, vitality pool and jacuzzi. Glass on two sides of the fitness suite provides views over Dunleath Park and the top floor will also be flooded with natural light.

This part of the new complex has been designed to be airy and spacious and experience showers on the top floor not only feature music, but spray scented water.

Once the new centre has been constructed the old Down Leisure Centre will be bulldozed to make way for 148 car parking spaces, four times the number currently available. A dedicated bus parking area and extensive disabled parking will also be provided.