| 43 “We’re trying to support all of the codes, and bring people to the building and to Lansdowne Park.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Kelly Deeks Blenheim sports facility impresses Lansdowne Sportshub is located between the netball courts and the main rugby playing surface. T Marlborough District Council: Landsdowne Park APL PROPERTY ∙ Property Management ∙ Project Management ∙ Body Corporate ∙ Valuation ∙ Asset Management ∙ Local and Nationwide www.aplproperty.co.nz www.arthousearchitects.co.nz enquiry@artarc.co.nz Nelson - 03 546 6664 Christchurch - 03 338 9350 A new multi-code shared space sports facility is now up and running at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim, and has created a highly positive synergistic dynamic between its user groups, who are already benefiting from the advantages of operating in a shared space. The contemporary-styled Lansdowne Sportshub opened in early March 2022, and had been identified in the Marlborough District Council’s outdoor sports facilities plan in 2011 as one of the goals in the strategic 10-year plan. Marlborough District Council manager of parks and open spaces Jane Tito says the need was identified for a number of sports hubs to help user groups with their individual management, and to benefit the wider sporting community for many years to come. Lansdowne Sportshub is located between the netball courts and the main rugby playing surface. The ground floor provides ample toilets and change rooms for sporting codes, as well as equipment storerooms, umpire rooms, and a tuck shop. The top floor has office space for the codes’ administration staff and features memorabilia areas, a kitchen, bar, and function area for about 220 people. Marlborough District Council’s appointed Sportshub facilitator is based at Lansdowne Sportshub and works closely with the user groups based there. “It’s a really good operational template,” Jane says. “We’re trying to support all of the codes, and bring people to the building and to Lansdowne Park.” Designed by architecture practice Arthouse Architects, which has designed several buildings for Marlborough District Council and won awards for some of them, the look of Lansdowne Sportshub mimics the skyline and the surrounding hills of Blenheim. Inside the top story of the building is a boardroom, with a view over the netball courts and eastern playing fields and kitchen and bar, as well as areas for the display of trophies. Balconies overlook the main rugby playing surface, while large windows provide great viewing over the netball courts. Future-proofing the facility was a key focus of the project, with environmentally friendly features like energy saving, water reducing features, a C02 meter. Arthouse Architects has a focus on collaborative design, and this project was no exception. As well as working closely with the Marlborough District Council, the structural engineer, the services engineer, the quantity surveyor, and the project manager, the user groups were also work-shopped with and kept informed all the way through of what was being designed and how it was going to be built. Designed by Arthouse Architects, the Lansdowne Sportshub in Blenheim opened in March this year. A project for locals, carried out by locals, local building firm Robinson Construction began work on the new facility in 2020. While the project was delayed due to Covid-19, it came in close to schedule and helped to create employment through the construction supply chain with local excavators, builders, block layers, roofers, plumbers, electricians, painters, and landscapers all contributing to the finished product. Over the past six months, Lansdowne Sportshub has already welcomed local sports user groups who will be permanently located at the facility, and the feedback has been great. “The space has a lot of natural sunlight and a wonderful acoustic effect with the ceilings having the same angles of the roof-line,” Jane says. “We have also had positive feedback about how all the user groups are now working together and supporting each other. Creating that kind of dynamic has been really positive.” Another Sportshub is budgeted for Marlborough within the next 12 months, at A&P Park to provide for football and other user groups.
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