Loughborough College Sports Centre

Delivered as part of Loughborough College’s wider campus transformation programme, the new Sports Teaching Block provides a dedicated home for one of the UK’s most respected sports education offers.

Funded through the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF), the £11.4 million development delivers 2,750m² of specialist sports, teaching and performance facilities across three storeys, creating a modern environment that supports both academic achievement and athletic excellence.

Located at the heart of the College’s sporting campus, the facility brings together elite training environments, flexible learning spaces and student support facilities, strengthening Loughborough College’s position as a nationally significant destination for sports education.

The Sports Teaching Block consolidates teaching, training and performance facilities within a single purpose-built environment, supporting the continued growth of Loughborough College’s nationally recognised sports curriculum. The development enhances the College’s ability to attract and develop talented athletes while providing students with access to industry-leading facilities that mirror professional sporting environments.

At the heart of the building is the Performance and Recovery Centre (PaRC), a specialist resource supporting sport degree programmes delivered in partnership with Loughborough University. Alongside flexible teaching spaces, strength and conditioning suites and cardiovascular training areas, the facility creates a seamless link between academic study, physical development and athlete wellbeing.

Beyond its academic function, the project also generated value for the client by being delivered as part of a live and operational campus environment – carefully planned and phased to minimise disruption to teaching, examinations and daily college operations. Unforeseen ground conditions were successfully managed through collaborative working between the project team and contractor, ensuring programme certainty, protecting quality and maintaining confidence in delivery under a tightly controlled Department for Education funding framework.

The completed facility provides students with access to an exceptional range of sports and teaching environments, including a Sport England-compliant and Premier-League standard sports hall, featuring a variety of sport courts, strength and conditioning facilities, cardiovascular training suites, specialist teaching spaces and an external running track.

By bringing these facilities together within a single building, the project strengthens connections between education, training and performance, creating a more cohesive student experience and supporting pathways into professional sport, coaching and related industries.

Designed to operate beyond core teaching hours, the building also supports wider community and commercial use, extending its value beyond the College and creating opportunities for greater engagement with local sporting organisations and partners.

Sustainability and resilience were key drivers throughout the design process. A fabric-first approach, combined with photovoltaic panels and carefully considered natural daylighting and ventilation strategies, helps reduce operational energy demand and supports the College’s environmental ambitions.

The building also responds intelligently to its Flood Zone 3 location through the incorporation of a raised ground floor and undercroft design that maintains flood storage capacity and allows water to pass beneath the structure. These measures improve the long-term resilience of the facility while contributing to a sustainable approach to site development.

Designed to support the next generation of athletes, coaches and sports professionals, the Sports Teaching Block creates an environment where learning and performance can thrive.

The facility secures a lasting home for Loughborough College’s sports curriculum, strengthening its reputation as a leading destination for sports education while providing a flexible platform for future success.