Member Article

Work underway on £12.8 million Hebburn 'hub'

Work has started on the outside of the £12.8 million building, which is the next stage of the Hebburn Community Hub.

The building will be clad in special weathering steel panels, famously used on the Angel of the North, and will gradually change colour over the coming weeks and months.

The steel sheeting, called Cor-Ten, was chosen by architects FaulknerBrowns to reflect the area’s industrial heritage.

Councillor Eddie McAtominey, Chair of Hebburn Regeneration Board, said: “Hebburn Community Hub is going to be a modern, world-class facility, but the steel cladding is a nod to the area’s rich industrial heritage.

The two-storey building will include a six-lane swimming pool, a learner pool, fitness suite, sports hall, dance studio, soft play area, library, learning centre and cafe, as well as meeting rooms and a customer service centre.

Lee McLaughlin, Project Director at FaulknerBrowns architects, said: “When any building is conceived, there is always debate on which external material to use.

“With the Hebburn hub we had a great opportunity to engage with the rich local heritage of the area. At consultation stage, public feedback on the use of a metal façade system was extremely positive.

“With history pointing to Palmer Brothers & Co, Hebburn Shipbuilding Dock and Reyrolles, there was great enthusiasm to embrace metal in a contemporary manner, whilst referencing much of the skill and craft pioneered in the area in the past.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .