Member Article

Rowing club appoints local architects to design club

Bournville Architects has won the competition for Birmingham Rowing Club’s new club house at Edgbaston Reservoir.

Selected via a two-stage design process, the project will provide a permanent home not only for the rowing club, but also the University of Birmingham Rowing Club, Birmingham Canoe Club and B-Row.

The club has outgrown its current accommodation at Edgbaston Reservoir as it has seen a steady increase in members over recent years as rowing grows in popularity.

The first phase will deliver a fully equipped gym and first floor club house with views over the reservoir while the second phase will provide boathouse accommodation.

The project will act as a focus as part of Birmingham City Council’s proposed redevelopment of Edgbaston Reservoir.

Sarah Gregory – club captain at Birmingham Rowing Club – says: “Bournville Architects won the two-stage competition because they provided the most impressive design demonstrating innovation and meticulous attention to detail whilst meeting every aspect of our brief.

“We are delighted to have them on board, forgive the pun! Bournville Architects’ creativity, foresight and comprehensive understanding of the sensitive nature of the site were key to our decision and we are more than confident we have selected the right architecture partner.”

Funding for the planning application has come from Sport England and planning for the new club house will be submitted this summer (2015) with the redevelopment set to begin in 2016.

“We relished the opportunity to help a local sporting institution. We will use our knowledge to create an innovative club house for Birmingham Rowing Club which is not only functional but also a stylish addition to club membership facilities,” says Ian Tipton, director at Bournville Architects.

Birmingham Rowing Club is situated at Edgbaston reservoir and caters for all ages and abilities from junior to senior squads. The club has experienced success at both national and regional levels whilst also running rowing courses in partnership with Edgbaston Water Sports Centre and B-Row: Youth Rowing in Birmingham.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Bournville Architects .