June 28 2022

A £47m leisure centre in Edinburgh has been previewed to the public ahead of its opening next month, concluding a seven-year design and development process.

Meadowbank Sports Centre has been delivered by Holmes Miller Architects on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Leisure to replace an outdated 1968 facility, introducing improved facilities in the process.

These include twin multi-sport halls, a gym, outdoor athletics track and stand, two synthetic pitches, a hospitality suite and a cafe.

In a statement, the architects wrote: "Holmes Miller’s expertise in sport & leisure architecture saw us selected in 2016 as architect to lead a design team on what was an extensive brief on a challenging site in the east of Edinburgh – with the responsibility of producing a design that matched the rich sporting heritage that was the backdrop to the Commonwealth Games on two occasions. Together with our partners, we have produced a unique facility that will serve both Edinburgh and the Nation as a regional sports hub for community and elite sport users."

The official opening is scheduled for 19 July. 

3 Comments

#1 Posted by Stevie Steve on 28 Jun 2022 at 13:17 PM

Why does the exterior of the building look so god awful? It looks more like a nuclear power station shed than it does a sports stadium. OK OK the facilities are probably good by why no thought into how the thing looks??? Prefer the old Basil Spence stadium...

#2 Posted by Daz on 28 Jun 2022 at 13:23 PM

Shame they couldn't have considered a facility for a speedway track, to help rescue the Edinburgh Monarchs who are losing their home to housing developers. Some character is being eroded from our cities and will never be allowed back.

#3 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 29 Jun 2022 at 10:37 AM

Big drop in capability from the previous set up -- to spend £47mill on a new facility and end up with less takes some doing.

Another Holyrood fail -- the councils take their cue from the SG and if their standards are low then the council's will be subterranean.

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