A Bournemouth school is going for gold following the completion of a new beach volleyball hall. Oakmead College of Technology took delivery of 1202m² of sand for the facility at its LeAF Campus on Duck Lane, Dorset. The new hall complements the school’s sports hall, fitness centre, gym, dance studio and extensive playing fields, allowing students to enjoy a diverse sports programme which promotes healthy lifestyles.

Rubb Buildings Ltd was tasked with the design, manufacture and delivery of the 32m span x 40m long sports building which includes two internal beach volleyball courts, complete with sand pits to represent a beach environment. The facility has sidewalls of 10.8m and boasts a clear playing height of 10m inside.

Annetta Minard, Executive Headteacher, said: “The indoor beach courts are already in full operation as an Olympic training venue. Oakmead College of Technology LeAF Campus is currently hosting men’s and women’s international teams from Brazil, Greece, and Great Britain as they prepare to qualify for the London Olympics this summer. The courts provide three full size match courts or four training courts and the international players believe it to be one of the best purpose built facilities in Europe.”

The volleyball hall features Rubb’s traditional galvanized internal steel frame, but with a new design. A tapered lattice leg facilitates the curved roof design specified by the school’s architect Trinity Architecture. The building is clad with durable PVDF coated fabric, providing blue walls and a white translucent roof. Rubb added the LeAF Campus logo to both gable ends of the structure. Four doors, one in each gable and sidewall, provide access to the sports facility.

Project Manager Andy Knox said: “The translucent white PVC roof lets the natural daylight into the building and is a great advantage of our sports buildings. This project went very smoothly from start to finish. We were able to adapt a design to suit the architect’s specifications and the school’s needs. The result was an ideal tailor-made solution for beach volleyball and shows how versatile Rubb solutions can be. Elements of the successful design could be used again in other applications and we are looking forward to some exciting new projects in the near future.”