Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) has announced that it has completed the new Sports & Performing Arts Centre of Excellence (The SPACE) for the Dubai College. GAJ says that the project was one of the most ambitious of the planned upgrades of the school to date.

According to a statement, the facility is located on a condensed part of the site at the back of the campus and required the demolition of the existing swimming pool and sports hall to free up valuable land for the new 5,500sqm development.

The firm says that the 900sqm multi-purpose gym with indoor running track was designed to be a central hub within the SPACE and occupies most of the ground floor. It is said to be supplemented by several flexible student spaces to foster a relationship between the physical movement and the science behind it allowing teachers to combine the practical with the theory.

The ground floor of the building features the new swimming facility and includes a 300-seat spectator viewing area, and an electronic touch timing system. The latter is said to make the facility ideal for galas and other water sports events.

On the first floor, the 1,100sqm sports hall is designed for two basketball and two netball courts with retractable bleacher style seating for around 500 spectators.

GAJ notes that that the size of the sports hall and its unique layout with a show court running in the opposite direction to the second court and a dividing curtain, allows the school the flexibility and capacity to increase the number of activities and to be able to host large tournaments.

Performing arts was also said to be a key consideration for the SPACE with the creation of a black box drama performance space with seating for 140, drama rooms, music classrooms as well as music practice areas. A rooftop MUGA court and student café have also been incorporated as well as a unique hall of fame showcasing the achievements of the school, GAJ concluded.