Setting the Passivhaus standard: BAM starts work on the new £36m Blairgowrie Recreation Centre
Setting the Passivhaus standard: BAM starts work on the new £36m Blairgowrie Recreation Centre
BAM cuts the sod at Scotland’s first ultra-low energy swimming pool and leisure centre.
BAM are starting work to replace and rebuild a 41 year-old recreation centre, delivering both state-of-the-art and energy efficient facilities to residents in and around East Perthshire.
The new recreation complex will comprise of a large, four-court sports hall and a smaller two-court sports hall/gymnasium, a six-lane 25m swimming pool, fitness gym, studio space and changing facilities, as well as other ancillary spaces and an external all-weather pitch.
Paul Carle, Construction Director, BAM Construction – Scotland
“We are proud to be working on this unique project with our partners which sees Passivhaus standards being utilised for one of the first swimming pools being built in this way in the UK and ultimately providing a net zero carbon building.
“BAM has a strong track record in Scotland and we are able to draw on considerable expertise in delivering high-quality, sustainable facilities which have a real benefit on local communities.”
Perth and Kinross Council leader Councillor Grant Laing visited the site on Wednesday and said:
“We want everyone in Perth and Kinross to live life well, enjoying healthy and active lifestyles. This long-awaited new Blairgowrie Recreation Centre (Live Active Blairgowrie) will provide the community with a range of top-class facilities that will encourage more people to get involved in sport and other fitness activities.
“It’s also going to be built to Passivhaus standards, which means it will be incredibly energy efficient and better for the environment.”
Aligning the project to the Passivhaus standard also consolidates BAM’s commitment to sustainability, striving for net carbon zero by 2050.
Yida Zhou, Project Architect at Holmes Miller, said:
“Perth & Kinross Council have a clear vision of reaching carbon zero, and working on this project has been a brilliant opportunity to help them achieve that, through cutting-edge sustainable design. As Scotland’s first leisure centre designed to Passivhaus standards, hopefully this project will inspire more councils and investors to adopt this approach, given the significant carbon and revenue savings that it makes possible.”
BAM is the main contractor delivering the project, with BakerHicks providing civil and structural engineering services. Rybka is managing building services on the project and Sussed Sustainability is confirmed as the Passivhaus designer.
It is expected the centre will open to the public in December 2024 with all exterior works completed the following year.
