Work kicks off on Durham University’s Queen’s Campus sports hall

Jan 22 2010 by Chris Knox, The Journal

WORK has started on a £5.2m sports hall at Durham University’s Queen’s Campus which will bring international-standard facilities to Stockton.

Demolition work recently began on the existing sports pavilion to make way for the development, which will benefit Durham’s students, staff and the local community.

Newcastle-based Surgo Construction is behind the project, which will be ready for the new academic year and will include a sports hall to teach badminton, volleyball and basketball.

The new sports hall, which will also include a fitness suite and spinning room, will allow the university to extend its outreach work with local people and provide facilities to John Snow and Stephenson Colleges, who will no longer need to travel to Durham or use other facilities.

The sports hall will be the first building on Queen’s Campus to contain a ground source heat pump and thermal solar water heaters.

Professor Ray Hudson, pro-vice-chancellor (partnerships and engagement), said: “The completion of these projects, in addition to other significant investment totaling over £2m for John Snow and Stephenson Colleges, is eagerly awaited. All facilities will be ready for use by autumn 2010 and will also include lounges, games rooms and arts and performance space.

“The new sports hall will also enable us to provide facilities for community use and further our outreach programmes, working with disadvantaged groups through sport. We are pleased to be working again with Surgo Construction on this project.”

It is Surgo’s third appointment by the university. The company’s director Jeff Alexander said: “In spite of the adverse weather, we are very pleased to have got 2010 off to such a good start with this new higher education sector appointment.”