Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre

Completed in September 2013, the £11.4m new-build Kirkcaldy Leisure Centre is one of the most striking Local Authority leisure facilities in the UK. Replacing the existing 1970s swimming pool, the new centre is located on the waterfront overlooking the Firth of Forth, just off the historic High Street and Tolbooth Street. The building presents its ‘public’ face to the Esplanade and the waterfront. The orientation of the building and the entry sequence seek to reinforce Tolbooth Street as the primary public realm link from High Street to Esplanade and building front door.

The building strives to become a shop window to the Esplanade with functions on display – café, pool, fitness and foyer – with light, colour, activity and vibrancy engaging the public. The massing of the building has been broken down to respond to the smaller scale and roof-scape of the adjacent context with simple, dynamic forms adding drama and visual tension. Internally, the double height foyer offers connectivity to the first floor café pod that captures expansive views across the water. The fitness suite sits above the entrance, with links to the first floor gymnasium and aerobics studios and glimpse views down into the pool halls.

Fife Council invested £15.3 million into the new facility (including a £1m award from Sportscotland’s Sports Facilities Fund) which is managed day to day by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust. The new centre offers the local community a wide choice of dry-side facilities with a purpose-built fitness studio and four-court sports hall, as well as a multi-activity children’s play centre and café. In addition, the building offers its customers a 25 meter six-lane swimming pool with poolside spectating for 90 people and a training pool with movable floor catering for customers of all ages including a range of aqua-based fitness classes. Thanks to exceptional sea front views, the centre’s 70-station gym equipped with the latest state-of-the-art equipment, is proving to be the perfect place for the local community to get active and improve fitness levels.

Fife Council acted as client body and Project Manager, with Turner and Townsend providing cost consultancy services and Arup delivering Structural, Civil and M&E Engineering services.  The architectural, lead consultant and contract administration roles were provided in collaboration by both cre8ARCHITECTURE and B3 Architects.

Details

Location: Kirkcaldy

Value: £11,445,480

Start Date: November 2011

End Date: September 2013

Main Contractor: Graham Construction