Building and refurbishment specialist Conamar has been appointed to construct the new pavilion building planned for the historic Herne Hill Velodrome in South East London.
Working with Hopkins Architects – the team behind 2012 Olympic Velodrome – and other members of the project team for the Herne Hill Velodrome Trust, Conamar will construct the £1.5 million pavilion next to the current cycling track.
The 272 sq m (2,928 sq ft) building will include a large multi-purpose room (that will be available for hire), a kitchen, a small meeting room and a viewing terrace, with changing rooms, showers, toilets, a medical room and a coaches’ office on the floor below.
A curved glulam roof will extend to become a canopy for the viewing terrace and is the building’s major design feature. It will be supported by the six listed pillars that formed part of the velodrome’s original pavilion and are being retained under the new proposals.
Hillary Peachey, Chair of the Herne Hill Velodrome Trust, said, “What better way to celebrate Herne Hill Velodrome’s 125th birthday this year by starting the final phase of our ambitious project to construct a new pavilion, which will safeguard cycling here for the next 99 years.”
Neil Dower, Managing Director of Conamar, said: “Herne Hill is home to one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world and is one of the few venues that played host to the 1948 London Olympics still in use. The site has a very active cycling programme, but with a number of Portakabins providing facilities at the moment, it’s fair to say that an upgrade is needed.
“We’re as enthusiastic about this project as the rest of the Trust and its partners. It’s a great opportunity to continue the British cycling tradition, supporting everyone with an ambition to improve and enjoy their cycling – and our work will be delivered with the same commitment to excellence, teamwork and, of course, pursuit of marginal gains.”
The new pavilion is planned to open in early 2017.