Oaklands College – Sports Hall

Replacing the existing under-sized sports hall, the new facility will provide a high-quality teaching and training space for students while also supporting competitions, events and wider community use. Designed to Sport England standards, the building will strengthen Oaklands’ nationally recognised sports provision and help support the continued growth of its sports academies. 

The Sports Hall forms part of our wider regeneration of Oaklands College’s St Albans campus. Once a manor house and former agricultural college, the campus has evolved over time through an assortment of teaching buildings set within its grounds. Although a highly successful college, much of the estate is no longer fit for purpose and needs renewal to meet modern expectations. The existing indoor sport provision has been limited, with the current sports hall lacking capacity and spectator accommodation.

The wider masterplan responds by introducing nine new buildings, connected by landscape improvements that enhance the Green Belt setting and group departments and student-focused uses around a new college square. Within this wider framework, located within the eastern sports zone, the building will be set amongst extensive playing fields and outdoor pitches, replacing the existing under-capacity sports hall.

The architectural approach takes its cue from the original black barn, with a simple pitched hall volume creating the silhouette of an agricultural shed when seen from a distance. This gives the building a strong and recognisable form within the eastern sports zone while tying it back to the wider character of the campus. Organised over two storeys, with façades responding to orientation: darker, more solid elevations to the north and east reference surrounding barns, while the south and west elevations introduce colour and glazing to relate to adjacent campus buildings. The main entrance is positioned on the south-west corner, marked by a curved ceramic-clad stair that signals arrival and connects to new public realm. 

The development of the Sports Hall has been informed by ongoing engagement with the college’s leadership team, sports staff and student body, ensuring the facility meets both teaching and performance needs. Particular focus has been placed on supporting Oaklands’ elite sports academies while also creating a welcoming and accessible environment for community use. As part of the wider masterplan consultation, feedback from students helped shape spaces that support training, social interaction and spectator experience, ensuring the building responds to the full spectrum of users. 

The building adopts a passive-first approach, with its simple form and orientation helping to optimise environmental performance. The wrapped mesh façade provides solar shading, reducing overheating while maintaining visual permeability and daylight. Carefully positioned openings balance natural light with the controlled conditions required for sport.