Blairgowrie Recreation Centre.

Blairgowrie Recreation Centre sets a new benchmark for sustainable leisure design, combining cutting-edge facilities with industry-leading energy performance. Designed to Passivhaus standards, the centre significantly reduces energy demand while offering accessible, inclusive sporting spaces for all users. 

Developed to support both the local community and Blairgowrie High School, the flexible facility provides a range of accessible, multi-use spaces that promote health, wellbeing and activity. Its design also responds to future growth, ensuring the centre can adapt to evolving demands.

Located south of Blairgowrie High School, the centre plays a key part in the school’s curriculum, providing students with designated PE facilities. Features include a six-lane, 25-metre competition swimming pool with a viewing gallery, a four-court sports hall, two-court gymnasium, dance studio, fitness suite and an external all-weather sports pitch. A movable pool floor allows the space to be reconfigured into separate zones with varying depths, increasing usability for different activities.

Following an initial consultation period that placed the local community at the centre of the project, BakerHicks provided civil and structural design services across all stages, from RIBA Stage 2 through to completion.

BakerHicks supported the project through planning and technical approvals, including Section 56 applications, Scottish Water pre-development enquiries, and Building Warrant submissions. All contractor-designed elements were performance-specified and reviewed under the SER scheme.

Working alongside a specialist contractor on the building superstructure, sustainability was embedded throughout the design, and a combination of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam was adopted.

Glulam elements further enhance performance by providing structural capacity alongside strong thermal and acoustic properties, contributing to a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. Zoned building services allow for efficient temperature control and reduced energy use when spaces are unoccupied. Collectively, these sustainable materials align with the Passivhaus approach and are anticipated to reduce operational energy consumption by up to 80% compared to a typical leisure centre.

Future planning was an integral part of the BakerHicks design process. Development plans were configured to incorporate additional spaces that allow the local community to participate in a greater range of sports and physical activities. 

This centre sets a new benchmark for leisure facilities in the UK. By applying Passivhaus principles to one of the most energy-intensive building types, the design significantly reduces energy demand while maintaining exceptional quality. The result is a high-performance facility that delivers long-term sustainability, lower operating costs, and a welcoming environment for the community.