DINTON ACTIVITY CENTRE

Wokingham

PROJECT DETAILS

The brand new, purpose-built activity centre, which will be the Borough’s first net zero asset, opened its doors in September 2021. The centre provides state-of-the-art educational, meeting and leisure facilities for the local community, within a design that celebrates its natural surroundings.

The two-storey building uses Siberian larch exterior cladding which will weather over time to blend in with the natural surroundings of the country park which offers an oasis of woodland, meadows and lakes.

The building also features a range of energy-efficient technologies, including solar panels and windcatchers on the roof for natural ventilation, low energy LED lighting and air source heat pumps, all of which will significantly reduce the centre’s overall energy demands and maintenance overheads. SMART building technology is in place to record and continually improve on the building’s performance in real time. In simple terms, the aim is for the energy usage by the building to match the energy it generates.

The building has already enjoyed industry attention throughout its construction process and has been used as an example of how local authorities across the country can successfully develop net zero carbon operational buildings.

Apteriors worked alongside HLM Architects, who designed the building, and Reds10, who delivered the project via off-site construction to fit out the new spaces.

Our specialist design team were able to complement the vision for the externals of the building throughout its interiors. The centre includes an activity hall, adult and children’s changing areas, dual-use teaching and conference spaces, coffee shop with spectator terrace overlooking the lake and park, an indoor climbing wall, which was hand-painted with woodland and water scenes of flora and fauna found within the country park – and more.