Harrogate Cricket Club Pavilion
Harrogate
seven were appointed by Harrogate Cricket Club in January 2010 to design a new pavilion for their St George's Road ground in Harrogate. The development would replace the original pavilion - built in 1896 but tragically lost to fire in May 2009 - with a new facility, sympathetic to both the ground's traditions and its physical context, but of an entirely contemporary nature, and with the brief to provide central changing rooms for two pitches, together with club facilities and a corporate entertainment space.
Working closely with club members, the local community, and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), seven designed a facility of an exceptional standard that is in accordance with best practice set out under both ECB and Sport England guidance. Its dual frontage elevations provide excellent vistas over the grounds and sheltered viewing for spectators, whilst its flexible and robust multi-functional spaces provide for a wide range of sporting and community uses that compete well commercially within the area.
The accommodation comprises a ground floor layout defined by functionality, providing ECB-standard changing facilities to support cricket on two pitches simultaneously. This includes changing room spaces for four full teams of players with individual cubicle showers and toilets, plus umpires rooms with the same. A club room is centrally located and is served by a small kitchen and bar providing refreshments for cricketers, spectators and the community.
The first floor shows off the building's impressive timber frame structure and houses a large function room with fully-glazed panoramic views of both pitches. These are also served by score rooms and balconies to both primary facades. The timber-clad gables are kept free from fenestration, negating overlooking issues and focusing the building on its principle relationship with the ground.
Detailed planning permission was successfully achieved in August 2010 with work starting on site three months later. The Pavilion was completed on budget in summer 2011 and was officially opened by England and Yorkshire opening bowler Tim Bresnan and England Women's star Katherine Brunt in a prestigious event covered by both local and national media.
Since opening it has been announced that the ground will become a base for the Yorkshire Women's cricket team and aspires to host international women's cricket in the near future. At the opening ceremony ECB national funding and facilities manager Bruce Cruse said it would "give a boost to grassroots cricket in the area and to the development of women's and girls' cricket in Yorkshire".
Club chairman Steven Culleton added: "Since the fire the teams had to change in portable cabins, but now players can enjoy the new pavilion with up-to-date facilities that are accessible to all. The large function room, kitchen and meeting rooms are fantastic facilities for the teams and spectators on match days and are available for community use at other times."
For details of the opening ceremony please visit here