Richmond upon Thames School, Sports Hall

The Sports Hall at Richmond upon Thames School is a brand-new, high-quality facility offering multi-use space to both students and the wider community. Designed by ECE Architecture and delivered by Beard Construction, the building represents the second phase of a strategic three-phase development of the campus for clients Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth Council. 

SBS Cladding supplied Swisspearl and Ceramapanel fibre cement cladding to the project, alongside the FloorSpan framing system, all of which were installed by Stoneguard. 

The new building delivers the school’s first permanent sports facility, replacing several temporary structures previously used for physical education. Built with a durable steel frame, the sports hall now stands as a modern and impactful addition to the site, featuring facade materials carefully selected to complement the existing architecture. 

Alongside profiled metal cladding and traditional facing bricks, the architects chose Swisspearl and Ceramapanel fibre cement cladding to enhance the building envelope. Ceramapanel in the colour ‘Linen’ was selected from the A1 Natural Textures Raw range to provide a contrast to the vertical sinusoidal profiled metal cladding used on the first-floor elevation. These highly durable panels were selected for their smooth, sanded face finish, which suited the clean and contemporary design. 

Swisspearl fibre cement cladding was also specified on the project, selected in a bespoke orange colour to create a striking contrast with the more neutral tones on the rest of the facade. The cladding panels were used to clad the external staircase and adjoining wall, with the panels the same dimensions as the Ceramapanel boards. This consistency across both materials creates a unified appearance and a sharp, cohesive finish.

The completed sports hall now provides a 594sqm multi-use space, along with changing rooms, toilet and shower facilities, studio spaces and a reception area, for use by Richmond upon Thames School, neighbouring Clarendon School and the local community. The project has achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating due to its carefully considered design, including integrated green roofs, photovoltaic panels, air source heat panels and sustainable materials. 

To find out more about Ceramapanel fibre cement cladding, click here. 

To find out more about Swisspearl fibre cement cladding, click here. 

To find out more about FloorSpan framing, click here.