Chellaram Sports Complex
A brand new sports hall for a long-standing College
Founded in 1862, Clifton College is located close to Clifton Down in Bristol. The school officially opened its new sports hall, the Chellaram Sports Complex, in 2024, on their nearby Abbots Leigh Campus.
Our team were appointed for the design and construction stages of the sports hall project located on the same footprint as the existing indoor sports dome structure.
Project Lead
Project Team
- Location Bristol
- Client Clifton College
- Completion 2024
- Value £7.9m
A new structure
Our design incorporated a new steel-framed structure to create a large uninterrupted hall area measuring some 40 metres x 65 metres on plan (allowing three courts to be in use at any one time).
The design incorporated steel-portalised trusses spanning the width of the hall.
The building achieved a BREEAM excellent rating - a large improvement from the previous dome structure which relied on electric fans constantly running to maintain it in an inflated, pressurised state.
Aesthetic challenges
The visual impact of the new facility surrounded by Green Belt land was a major challenge in the design. Working closely with the architect Alec French and contractor Speller Metcalfe, we developed a design strategy taking into account the existing footprint and building height, then optimising the number of courts and level of play which the existing footprint could accommodate.
A hall fit for all
The new facility was designed with versatility in mind to support a much larger range of sports activities, with improved natural lighting and passive ventilation. The modern multi-purpose floor inside the hall can accommodate netball, tennis, badminton and basketball courts, along with cricket lanes, a bouldering wall, a hockey pitch, space for touch rugby and numerous table tennis tables.
It also provides seating for up to 208 people, as well as a single storey extension comprising sport equipment storage, WCs & changing rooms, and a plant area.
Awards and Shortlisting
Construction Excellence South West Awards 2025 - Winner under the 'Delivering Value' category.
Education Property Awards 2025 - Shortlisted for Decarbonisation/Green Project of the Year.
Take a look at the frame installation!
