System: AmbiTak
Client: Dacorum Sports Trust
Architect: Saunders Partnerships LLP
Contractor: GB Group
Project Value: £5.25 Million

The the XC (Extreme Connexions) Sports Centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire is a world class sports facility providing an impressive range of activities all under one roof. With the largest indoor combined wood and concrete skate park in the UK, the largest indoor caving facility in Europe and its 12 metre high climbing wall, this leisure centre is in a league of its own.

Constructed in a steel frame the structure has an innovative open mesh frontage which creates an ambiente temperature for the skaters and climbers and allows for natural ventilation. A number of measures were adopted to reduce energy consumption and the building’s carbon footprint.

All heating is generated by air source heat pumps, recycled materials were used for the sub-base and sustainable flooring materials were used throughout, including special non-glue carpeting.

The total internal floor area is 2345m2 and underfloor heating was chosen because it provides comfortable and even distribution of heat without the requirement for fans or blowers. It also allows for maximum flexibility in design and layout.

Ambiente supplied a fixed reduced water temperature system with individual zone control for a total of 28 zones for the ground and first floors. 75mm and 30mm EPS insulation were supplied for both areas. Ambiente also supplied the manifold assemblies, pumpsets, thermoelectric actuator heads, wiring centres, UFH 17mm PE-RT pipe and tamper proof dialroom thermostats to complete the project.