Last month saw the opening of 5 Pancras Square – a brand new public leisure centre, relocated library, and community facilities in the heart of King’s Cross.
The state-of-the-art building boasts a 25 metre four-lane swimming pool with a swimjet, a learner pool with play area, a spa pool, two exercise studios, a 90 station fitness facility plus a sauna and steam room.
The venue is Camden’s most accessible leisure centre with changing places and toilet facilities available to support those with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The pool itself is equipped with a moveable floor to support access for disabled users and those learning to swim.
GREEN DESIGN
The leisure centre was designed by LA Architects, and built by Kier Construction, and is one of the greenest buildings in the UK after achieving a BREEAM sustainable design rating of ‘outstanding’. FT Leisure installed the water treatment, filtration systems, movable floor, and water features, as well as the swimjet and fully accessible pool access platform. Secondary tanking to the pool was provided by Mapei, while Atwork Associates created the back illuminated feature wall.
Richard Gaete-Holmes of LA Architects said: “The leisure centre has been designed with a void above the pool which allows daylight down into the pool hall. This void also enables a visual connection to be made between the pool and the users of the fitness suite and pedestrians walking around the building.”
He added: “Internally, light finishes have been specified with good lighting levels, in order to compensate for the lack of natural daylight. Playful elements have also been added such as the back illuminated feature wall within the pool-hall which provides a truly special and unique quality to the space.”
Split across 14 floors, it is hoped that 5 Pancras Square will become an important hub for Camden, with 500,000 users expected per year for the leisure centre. The new leisure facilities will be managed by GLL, who currently manage the Council’s other leisure centres in the borough.
LA Architects
Tel. +44 (0)1273 878440
www.la-architects.co.uk
