For Calderdale Council £11m was spent over two new centres at Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge including; 2 new 25m community pool, 20m training pool, fitness suites, studios and tennis.

When Calderdale Council elected to close three ageing sites in the district, Saunders Boston was appointed to design two new replacement Leisure Centres in Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge.

The schemes were designed in response to an urban regeneration concept as two strikingly modern insertions into the existing urban grain.

At Sowerby Bridge the massing of the building, the strongly curved river elevation and the form and materials were chosen to contrast with its surroundings. The site is the former outdoor market within the town centre of Sowerby Bridge.

Whilst at Brighouse the building is sensitively handled with several mono-pitched roofs stepping down with the naturally sloping site. Materials were carefully chosen to blend with the surroundings and include reconstituted stone, composite cladding, cedar timber cladding and standing seam aluminium roof.

Our appointment included a full architectural and interior service for Willmott Dixon on a design & build basis under a partnering contract through the SCAPE framework.

The scheme was recognised as the Regional Winner of ‘Community Building’ LABC Building Excellence Award 2011.