Strength & Conditioning Gym, Mardyke Arena
Low Carbon Construction Development
The Mardyke Arena in University College Cork has been transformed with a new 420 m2 extension providing a strength-and-conditioning gym, a centre of excellence, dedicated to empowering athletes and teams to reach their highest potential.
O’Connell Mahon Architects, led by Laura Hanley, designed this gym to minimise the visual impact, carbon footprint and ongoing operational costs of the facility. They were tasked with creating an extension would provide a dedicated squad/athlete strength-and-conditioning gym to meet the needs of all UCC teams and sports, scholarship students, and international and Olympic athletes.
The Mardyke Arena was designed to energy efficient IS 399 standards. Low Carbon Analysis software was used to compare building fabric options and minimise embodied carbon in the proposed construction. It was built using materials with the lowest carbon content possible.
The roof structure, which features our bespoke designed roof lights, was designed with glulam beams combined with a CLT structure to provide the users with 420m2 of work out space, unobstructed from columns. West Architectural Facades installed our roof lights, curtain wall system with integrated ventilation and commercial door system.
The high-performance gym was developed by Summerhill Construction, it is a cutting-edge training, research, innovation, and holistic facility, providing student athletes and teams with the resources they need to excel on the national and international sports arena.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath TD officially opened the new High-Performance Strength and Conditioning Gym at University College Cork’s (UCC) Mardyke Arena on Monday, 10 July 2023.
Opening the gym, Minister McGrath, Minister for Finance, said: “This new strength and conditioning gym here in UCC’s Mardyke Arena is really a magnificent achievement and I want to congratulate everyone in making this state of the art facility a reality. Sport can inspire a sense of hope, empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential, both on and off the field. This gym will inspire a new wave of elite talent, shaping future leaders in the world of sports and beyond.”
Professor John O’Halloran, UCC President, said: “From our newest sports clubs through to high performance teams and athletes, UCC strives to make the university sporting experience inclusive to all by supporting ongoing participation and excellence: many tribes, one team. Today’s launch is not just about the bricks and mortar of a building. It is about the countless stories of triumph, resilience, and personal growth that will unfold within this space.”
John Mullins, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mardyke Leisure (UCC), said: “This new world class facility will not only provide huge opportunities for the university’s talented elite athletes and teams, but will also create significant opportunities for Cork and Munster elite athletes and teams to achieve their highest potential in the years ahead.”
The excellent images showcasing the beautiful angled design are courtesy of O’Connell Mahon Architects.
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