Written by Roberts Limbrick Ltd
The ‘Tonbridge Centre’ is a new sports and media teaching facility for Tonbridge School, situated in part of the school sports grounds and within the ‘Green Belt’, designated as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’.
The accommodation comprises entrance foyer, media centre, fitness centre, multi- purpose studio, classroom, lounge / bar, 5 court sports hall, 6 lane 25 metre swimming pool, associated changing / toilets, and ancillary areas.
A central 2 storey zone of accommodation incorporating a linear ‘street’ – the social hub at the upper level, is flanked on each side by the high volume spaces; the swimming pool and sports hall.
All facilities can be accessed or viewed from the ‘street’, which overlooks the pool, and beyond to the surrounding landscape.
The new building replaces an existing swimming pool located on an elevated area of land, overlooking the external school sports facilities and panoramic rural landscape.
Mature trees enclose the site at upper levels creating an ever changing coloured back drop throughout the autumn season.
The building form, which is set into the sloping landscape, and appears to ‘emerge’ from it at the lower end, is terminated at the upper level by an undulating ‘wave form’ roofscape.
The selection of cladding materials; copper oxide, pre-patinated copper, timber, render and coloured glass, establish both longevity and an empathy with the natural surroundings.
Specialist copper contractor: T R Freedman Ltd
Main contractor: R Durtnell Ltd
