The Marist School, Sunninghill
The Marist School Ball Hall took around 12 months to complete and includes a multi-purpose sports hall with changing rooms, an upstairs viewing gallery, state-of-the-art fitness suite and fully functioning classrooms. Single storey sports hall with two storey ancillary areas
Project Challenges
We have faced a variety of challenges throughout our time developing sports halls. Each project generally presents its own set of complications, sometimes relating to existing structures, surrounding areas or site conditions and in other cases, it’s purely about budget, keeping numerous funding partners happy, or meeting a deadline.
Project Challenges
Despite upholding a reputation for excelling in sport, the only indoor sports facility the Marist school had available was, one classroom.
The school has Ancient Woodlands within its grounds and access to the area was restricted. A previously proposed scheme for a sports hall had failed to meet the planning requirements due to its proximity to this protected and treasured woodland.
There was also an added challenge of developing the whole project over a live main sewer that went right through the site. A further challenge was ensuring that the surface area water drainage was dealt with in a way that did not impact the view from the older convent building, which over looks the landscape.
Project Solution
Each unique set of circumstances, is thought about and considered, in depth, by Ball Hall at the outset of the project. We bring all of our previous experience and expertise to the fore and try where possible, to apply a combination of creative and pragmatic thinking to problem solve in each case.
Project Solutions
Ball Hall engaged a specialist team of design consultants who worked in partnership with our expert planning advisor.
Together we came up with a design that offered an alternative solution and by efficiently aligning the footprint to fit in with the access and planning restrictions - our recommendation was successful through planning and development.
Ball Hall Added Value
With all the difficulties of a project considered upfront and contingency built in for unforeseen events or conditions, Ball Hall deliver outstanding buildings for sport. A Ball Hall Sports Hall often exceeds expectation and consistently becomes a flag waving celebration for the organisation, with many further benefits that materialise over time.
Ball Hall Added Value
This Ball Hall scheme completely unlocked the ongoing problem of inadequate premises and restricted access and provided the school with a comprehensive facility befitting the schools sporting success. Located in an area of many competitive independent schools, the Ball Hall sports hall, officially opened by HRH The Duke of York, became another distinguishing feature of The Marist school and has helped to raise their profile amongst prospective families and pupils.
We also installed indoor draping which enabled the sports hall to effortlessly transform into an indoor marquee with the benefit of inside, onsite facilities such as toilets etc. Ideal for celebratory occasions, this has became a prestigious wedding venue.
