Lyng Hall SchoolSports Hall
Lyng Hall Secondary School in Coventry is well-known for its extensive sports facilities, which include a swimming pool and outdoor netball courts. However, to accommodate the growing number of students, a new sports hall is required to support their learning and development.
The new facility will be a standalone sports hall that meets the requirements set by Sport England. It will feature two badminton-sized courts, a basketball training court, gym facilities, and changing rooms.
The project has now started on site, with GEDA Construction serving as the lead contractor on behalf of Coventry City Council, an organisation we have collaborated with in the last few years.
Sector
Education
Services
Architecture
Status
Onsite
Client
Coventry City Council
Location
Coventry
Contractor
GEDA Construction
Contract Value
£5.5m
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Requirements
The existing sports hall only accounts for approximately 50% of the total space required for the growing number of pupils. Initially, Lungfish Architects assessed the school's current indoor sports facilities to explore options for expansion by the Building Bulletin guidelines and Sports England standards. However, it was concluded that opportunities to expand the existing hall were limited due to the current structure, adjacent sports pitches, and various site constraints, including underground services.
As a result, Lungfish Architects developed a proposal for a new standalone building on the school grounds to increase the overall indoor space available.
Soultion
The concept design included the requirement to create a building that meets Sport England's standards for two badminton courts and basketball training courts, featuring sprung flooring throughout the main hall area. The scheme also includes new gym training facilities, equipped with both free weights and stationary equipment, as well as new dry changing facilities and associated spaces, including restrooms (WCs).
Design Features
The design of the new building carefully considered its massing, orientation, and location because of the nearby two-storey residential houses. The gym and entrance area were positioned to maximise views across the school site, achieving a southern and western outlook through the use of floor-to-ceiling glazing and door sets.
The Main Hall features three sets of full-height translucent glazing to ensure that this large space remains light and airy while minimising light overspill to neighbouring residences.
Close collaboration with the school community guided the planning for out-of-hours access, ensuring that school security was maintained—a key topic of discussion throughout the process.
Internally, the building utilises exposed and painted blockwork to provide a robust finish and enhance the facility’s aesthetics, avoiding the wear and untidiness that can occur with damaged plasterboard’s.
