Work starts on Waterford sports scheme
Irish minister for public expenditure and reform Brendan Howlin has helped mark the start of work on a new EUR10.5m (£9m) sports campus at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).
The multi-purpose arena, which will be located at Carriganore and has been designed by Turlough Clancy of Henry J Lyons, will complement the existing EUR8.5m (£7.3m) WIT Sports Arena and integrate with the pavilion and changing areas.
Facilities will include an indoor arena that can be converted into an examination, conference or exhibition centre; a two-level, elite athlete gymnasium; and performance analysis suites.
Four playing pitches and a 2,000-seat conference centre will also form part of the project, as well as ancillary sports and catering facilities and a 180-capacity E-Learning centre.
The first two phases of the WIT Sport Campus were completed last year and feature a cross country track; physiotherapy rooms; changing facilities; and four playing pitches, one of which is the first all-weather pitch to meet Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) standards.
GAA president Christy Cooney said: "The sporting pluses - for Gaelic games in particular - arising from this facility are clear for all to see but the possible knock-on from such an initiative is not restricted to sporting activity alone."
WIT registrar Dr Derek O'Byrne said: "The provision of this complex, allied to the close association we plan to develop with the GAA, will ensure that WIT will be a leader at combining academic and physical education as integral parts of the curriculum."
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Why shouldn’t sports facilities be beautiful? Across Asia, architects are creating landmark buildings for the public, discovers Christopher de Wolf