Construction is underway of the impressive extension to the Jubilee Sports Centre, marking the start of wider improvements across our campuses.
The University’s £40 million investment in sports and wellbeing facilities is part of an ambitious programme of rejuvenation and refurbishment, which will create the best education and studying facilities for students, enable world-class research to take place, and foster collaboration with businesses.
Professor Mark E. Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the University was joined at an official ground-breaking ceremony for the new sports centre by Dr Alan Whitehead MP and Casie Osborne, VP of Sports for the Students’ Union. Dr Alan Whitehead MP attended the University of Southampton in 1968 to study Politics and Philosophy. He was also President of the Students’ Union in 1971.
Sir James Wates, Chairman of Wates Group, and Richard Shroll, managing director of Wates Construction South, who are building the centre, were also in attendance.
The extension to the centre, due to open in summer 2024, will include a modernised gym with 200 exercise stations, five new sports studios including dedicated martial arts and indoor cycling spaces, and a bouldering/climbing wall.
There will also be a reception area with toilets and cafe, as well as parking for e-scooters and bikes.
Professor Mark Smith said: “Sport, fitness and wellbeing are incredibly important to our students, staff and our local community. The ground-breaking ceremony marks the start of an exciting chapter of our new sports building, and indeed, our long-term plans to improve other parts of our campuses.
“We will be making significant investments in our buildings and infrastructure to ensure we are providing research and teaching facilities that enable our staff and students to continue to excel. This will benefit both the University and the city of Southampton. I would like to thank all those involved in months of planning of the Jubilee Sports Centre, and I am looking forward to watching the development take shape over the coming months.”
Casie Osborne, Vice President Sports at the University of Southampton Students’ Union, said: “In response to student demands, the University has made the right decision in choosing to invest in expanding and improving the sporting facilities in a way that is truly beneficial to students. It has been a privilege to be involved in the Jubilee development plans, and there has been a willingness by the team to listen to key topics students care about such as sustainability, accessibility, and increasing opportunities offered.
“I am excited for when the Centre is completed as I know it will hugely enhance the student experience and is key to achieving our Sport Strategy goals to help more students live an active lifestyle.”
The £600 million investment of work across our campuses will include removing buildings no longer fit for purpose, refurbishing existing buildings, improving accommodation and enhancing open spaces.
The developments will help to support our goal to become carbon neutral by 2030 as work will not only be improvements to the estate, but will also consider travel, waste and recycling.
We will be launching our Strategic Plan for the built estate and inviting comments and questions from our University community at a Town Hall event on Monday 7 November. A series of presentation boards is available, which give further detail on the plans.
