Ultra-low-energy Ravelin Sports Centre inspected by IAKS experts

The Ravelin Sports Centre, an outstanding showcase for ultra-low-energy sports facilities, was the meeting place for international experts. Yesterday, part of the IAKS Expert Circle Pools met for a site visit under the expert guidance of project architects Mike Hall and Irina Korneychuk from FaulknerBrowns and Mark Palmer from Max Fordham. Afterwards, the experts from Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Switzerland discussed their experiences in the field of sustainability and compared key figures. Participants even travelled all the way from Canada. The IAKS expert group is planning to publish a white paper next autumn.

The multi-functional centre on the campus of the University of Portsmouth combines a swimming pool, sports hall, fitness facilities and teaching space – and sets new benchmarks for ultra low-energy sports facilities.

The design is fossil fuel-free and has demonstrated an operational energy consumption of less than 100 kWh/m2/year – a level of performance which no other equivalent sports centre in the UK has yet demonstrated.