The Robins High Performance Centre includes a floodlit show pitch, capable of hosting City Women, Under-18 and Under-23 men’s matches, two other full-size pitches and two further training areas.
The building itself encompasses a gym, hydrotherapy pool, changing rooms, medical and rehabilitation facilities, a tactics room and office space, as well as education and welfare facilities for City’s young players.
The Robins HPC also incorporates renewable energy in the form of the latest heat pump technology for the provision of heating and hot water, thus reducing the use of fossil fuels. This makes the design clean, efficient and sustainable.
“We’re hugely proud of our new training facility and to have it win a design award is a real testimony to KKA’s ability to collaboratively work with a number of key stakeholders to drive forward the very best final design,” said Gary Davenport, Academy Manager at Bristol City.
Based in Liverpool but with a national focus, KKA also designed the Ashton Gate Stadium expansion which was delivered on time and on budget in 2016. Just down the road from the Robins HPC , KKA also successfully delivered the Bears High Performance Centre amidst the difficulties of a worldwide pandemic back in May 2020.
Kasia Borkowska, director, KKA, said: “Having the Robins High Performance Centre win the ‘Commercial Building’ category by the best in the business at the Northern Design Awards is a hugely proud moment for KKA and our partners on this brilliant project.
“At KKA, we pride ourselves on designing buildings that are aesthetically pleasing and provide a brilliant user experience, while also leaving a lasting social legacy. Bristol City’s new training facility is a perfect illustration of how these goals can be simultaneously achieved, with the local community already benefitting from its education and welfare facilities for its City Academy students.”
Steve May, Ashton Gate’s Lead Project Manager, added: “This is just the latest example of the outstanding work they’ve done for us and we’re really excited to have them leading on our Sporting Quarter and Longmoor plans which are currently in planning and due to be determined in the New Year.
“I’ve worked with KKA for most of the last decade on various projects across the Bristol Sport group and their attention to detail and willingness to adapt is excellent.”
