Delivering a new world class sports performance centre
September 2016

CMS Window Systems has played a key role in the construction of a new world-class sports and exercise facility at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt university.

The building envelope specialist was appointed by main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland to manufacture and install a curtain wall exterior and doors for Oriam, Scotland’s brand new Sports Performance Centre, which will keep the space light, bright and temperate – perfect for sport.

Co-funded by Heriott-Watt University, the Scottish Government, sportscotland and The City of Edinburgh Council, the £33m Oriam development aims brings world class sports facilities to Edinburgh and the university campus. The facility, located in the rolling parkland of Heriot-Watt’s west Edinburgh campus, will serve as a training ground for the country’s top sportsmen and women in a variety of disciplines, as well as providing the university and the local community with a top quality sports facility to use.

With funding for the project secured in 2012, work on site began in March last year, with CMS appointed to manufacture and install over 2000m2 of curtain walling for Oriam’s external envelope. A light and bright interior with excellent sound insulation and impact-resistant glazing was required for the sports environment, to maximise internal visibility and reduce the risk of damage or injury.

The CMS contract, valued at around £1 million, included the installation of Metal Technology’s high performance System’s 17 curtain walling to provide an attractive exterior for the building’s envelope. With a continuous thermal isolator providing a consistent thermal break throughout the system, System 17 is the ideal choice to maximise Oriam’s thermal efficiency, as well as ensuring excellent light transmission via its frameless top-hung casement window structure. The building’s doors, from Metal Technology’s System 5-20Hi+ Thermal range, were chosen by CMS to complement the thermal specification of the curtain walling framework.

Designed by architects Reiach and Hall, Oriam comprises a state-of-the-art indoor football pitch; outdoor pitches for football and rugby; a twelve-court sports hall; a cafe and fitness suite; and world class facilities for sports science and medicine, including a hydrotherapy pool and a strength and conditioning suite. The building features an impressive 100m curved steel frame clad in tensioned PVC, which encloses the development’s indoor football pitch as well as seating for 500 spectators.

The Oriam centre was officially opened at the end of August. Its construction and development have received praise from a wide range of sources: the building’s suitability for its diverse range of uses and users has received particular commendation, with critics applauding the versatility of the space.

Mark Dodson, Chief Executive of Scottish Rugby, was one of those singing the building’s praises: “Scottish Rugby is grateful to Heriot-Watt and other partners for the consideration and delivery of its specific requirements within the Centre. We are confident it will be a real asset in helping our senior teams prepare for competition on the world stage."

Stephen Anderson, Aluminium Director of CMS, said: “We are very pleased to have been involved in the Oriam project, which will help to put Edinburgh on the map as a city with truly world-class sporting accommodation. With a specification chosen to enhance the indoor facilities already on offer, it’s great to think that our glazing has helped to create an environment in which our elite sportsmen and women can flourish.”

Oriam will play home to a number of national sports teams and clubs, including the Scottish FA, Scottish Rugby Union, as well as Basketball Scotland, Scottish Squash & Racketball and Scottish Volleyball, but the many of the development’s facilities will be open to the community. Additionally, Oriam aims to make a positive impact on the Edinburgh community by encouraging local residents to take part in sport on the site.

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