The £40m David Ross Sports Village opened in October 2016 as a new addition to The University of Nottingham’s University Park Campus, providing all of its sports team and clubs with a range of innovative new facilities in a lively and inclusive environment.
At 16,500sqm it has tripled the size of the University’s previous sports centre on the same site and now provides connectivity between indoor / outdoor sport and swimming pool facilities, all accessed via a single reception control point.
The University has invested £300m into its building over the last five years and the creation of this modern, custom-built sporting infrastructure will play a major role in inspiring increased participation in sport.
It will help deliver the University’s ambition to significantly increase participation in sports at all levels – from encouraging children to experience a range of new sporting pastimes, through to the enhancement of elite performance at a National and International level.
At its heart is the largest university sports hall in the UK which at 3,840sq.m contains 20 badminton courts, four indoor cricket nets, four netball courts, four volleyball courts, four basketball courts, four handball courts, four indoor hockey pitches, four korfball pitches, four boccia courts and four futsal pitches.
It also includes a climbing / bouldering wall, 60m indoor sprint track, strength and conditioning suite, archery hall, fencing and table tennis hall, two dance studios, snooker hall, martial arts dojo, six squash courts including an all-glass competition court surrounded by spectator seating and a large café which opens up to an active entrance plaza and overlooks the indoor sprint track.
The clinical space provided is pivotal in achieving the University’s ambition to become a leading sports university creating a culture of targeting sporting excellence. This space includes a hydrotherapy pool and isokinetic space which are key to aiding the rehabilitation and recovery of elite athletes.
Doing more with less, in addition to sports and academic functions, the facility will also be used throughout the University term for large scale events ranging from Fresher’s Fairs to examinations and Graduation Ceremonies.
