Latest News

Work has started on a new £5.2m sports hall at Durham University ’s Queen’s Campus which will bring international standard facilities to Stockton .

Demolition work recently began on the existing sports pavilion to make way for the development which will benefit Durham ’s students, staff and the local community.

One of the North East’s leading building contractors, SURGO Construction, together with representatives from the University assembled on site to mark the start of the construction programme. 

In a bid to be as sustainable as possible, the University’s brief to contractors asked for suggestions on sustainable design elements and as a result, the sports hall will be the first building on Queen’s Campus to contain a ground source heat pump and thermal solar water heaters.

When complete in readiness for the start of the new academic year this autumn, the sports hall will provide students and staff with facilities for badminton, netball, volleyball and basketball, giving a boost to students of both John Snow and Stephenson Colleges who will no longer need to travel to Durham or use other local facilities.

The new sports hall, which will also include a superbfitness suite and spinning room, will be used by the University’s elite teams and will allow the University to extend its outreach work with local people.

The new facilities will be in addition to Queen’s existing floodlit Astroturf pitches for football and hockey.  Its location next to the River Tees also makes Queen’s an ideal place to pursue rowing, sailing and canoeing.

The investment in sport facilities is part of a larger upgrade of Queen’s Campus which is home to 2,000 students.

Professor Ray Hudson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Partnerships and Engagement), at Durham University, said:  “The completion of these projects, in addition to other significant investment totalling over some £2m for John Snow and Stephenson Colleges, is eagerly awaited.  All facilities will be ready for use by autumn 2010 and will also include lounges, games rooms and arts and performance space where students can relax and enjoy their leisure time.

“The new sports hall will also enable us to provide facilities for community use and further our outreach programmes, working with disadvantaged groups through sport.

“We are pleased to be working again with SURGO Construction on this project.  Not only did SURGO put in an excellent submission as well as the most competitive bid, but the team has a good track record of providing great service at the University.”   

Speaking about SURGO’s third appointment by the University in as many years, a delighted Jeff Alexander, director, said:

“In spite of the adverse weather, we are very pleased to have got 2010 off to such a good start with this new higher education sector appointment.

“Although a regional company, we have a reputation for delivering such prestigious projects on time, within budget and often on live sites, which has been recognised by the University and helped us to secure this appointment.  Clients know that our flexible approach and willingness to address problems as they arise is a recipe for avoiding any potential disputes, an important factor in this increasingly competitive market place.”