Carnegie Pavilion, Headingley Cricket Club - Proposal
2008-
SMC Alsop
Pavilion + media centre
Submitted for planning early 2008
For Yorkshire County Cricket Club & Leeds Metropolitan University



Apr 2008
WILL ALSOP UNVEILS FIRST IMAGES OF HEADINGLEY WORLD-CLASS CRICKET PAVILION AS SCHEME GOES IN FOR PLANNING

Leeds Metropolitan University and Yorkshire County Cricket Club have submitted plans for a striking new scheme at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground in Leeds. The scheme combines new world-class cricket media and hospitality facilities with the functions of a University teaching faculty to provide a unique integrated development.

Designed by Will Alsop, the new 4,000sqm Carnegie Pavilion will replace and upgrade the existing Yorkshire County Cricket Club facilities at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground, whilst providing first class teaching space for Leeds Met. During the summer period, the proposal will operate mainly as a cricket pavilion and media centre, whilst during the academic year, the proposed development will operate mainly as a University teaching faculty, allowing students access to ‘real world’ modern media facilities, sporting, hospitality and event management experiences.



Alsop’s response to the joint client brief and the physical constraints of the site, which is bounded on three sides, is to create a powerful verdant building that blends in well with its surroundings. The pavilion provides accommodation for a mix of uses on five floors for both clients - and the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) requirements for test matches - while also enhancing daylighting and privacy of the adjacent residential buildings, and connecting the green spaces around the pavilion with the locality. Plans include: a state-of-the-art media centre; an upgrade of player facilities such as changing rooms and treatment rooms; and replacement spectator seating, new executive boxes and associated facilities. The new hospitality suites and media centre have been designed as lecture theatres and teaching space for use outside major cricketing events.

Environmental, economic and social sustainability are central to the project. The sustainability strategy involves creating one dual-use building which will be used all year around, and is designed to achieve an environmental assessment (BREEAM) rating of ‘Excellent’.



Shaun Russell Project Director at SMC Alsop said of the project: “I think the Carnegie Pavilion will become a model for both a new kind of sustainable sports venue and a more innovative approach to higher education.”

Integrating successfully into its setting, the Alsop scheme presents a predominantly naturalistic green, white and glazed exterior featuring green rainscreen cladding with varied perforations, pitches and tones. The cladding strategy along with carefully considered landscaping elements aim to visually soften the edges and break down the mass of the pavilion. The naturalistic green cladding intentionally merges with gentle landscaping in front of the pavilion as well as the gardens and trees in and around the adjacent residential area.

Echoing the curves of the stadium, the upper three floors of the pavilion are enclosed by facetted, triangular perforated, metal panels in three naturalistic light green tones. In contrast, the upper ground and lower ground floors are enclosed with frameless curtain walling to maximise the openness and transparency at entrance level. Above the third floor, the triangular metal panels reappear in the form of an overhanging roof shade to the glazed south elevation. Spanning floor to floor, the windows are subdivided into fixed and opening panels. As a visual counterpoint to the predominantly green elevation, the windows are tinted with purple tones.

The east façade, which runs parallel to the existing boundary brick wall, will be clad entirely in white-painted timber forming a trellis for the green living wall to support climbing plants. At the eastern end of the site, which is closest to the residential neighbours, the green space will be extended to form a landscaped roof over the upper ground floor.

In contrast, the south façade, above first floor level, is flat but inclined, enclosed by sheer curtain walling in an irregular, chequered pattern of translucent white and clear panels. The white panels enhance the insulation of the facade, reducing both heat loss and heat gain whilst maintaining adequate daylight levels for teaching areas.

In integrating the pavilion with the surrounding neighbourhood, the proposal involves extending the green spaces around the building, removing a car park and demolishing the existing brick wall and replacing it with open railings.

Stewart Regan, Chief Executive of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, comments: “In its current state, Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground is facing the prospect of losing its Test Match venue status in an increasingly competitive market, particularly following the recent redevelopment of existing and new grounds such as The Oval (Surrey), The Rose Bowl (Hampshire), Trent Bridge (Nottinghamshire) and Sophia Gardens (Glamorgan)”.

The economic benefits of retaining Test Match cricket at Headingley are significant. Hamish Robertshaw, Associated Director at DTZ explains: “It is estimated that each Test Match at Headingley Carnegie is worth some £3.5 million to the local economy, making an upgrade of facilities at the stadium vital. The innovative Carnegie Pavilion will offer a superior sporting venue and an inspiring real world taught experience for students of Leeds Met’s School of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management”.

Should planning approval be granted, the scheme is scheduled to start construction later this year following the conclusion of the 2008 cricket season, and is due for completion in 2010.



Leeds Architecture

Carnegie Pavilion architect : SMC Alsop

Headingley Cricket Club Carnegie Pavilion - Credits:
Client: Leeds Metropolitan University and Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC)
Architect: SMC Alsop
Structural engineer, Acoustics, Fire, Transport and Building Services: Arup
Project Manager: Gardiner & Theobald
Planning Consultant: DTZ

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