The £3million project, which is due to be completed in the Summer, will see the construction of the College’s largest single building which has been designed to hold equestrian competitions and events as well as lectures and practical demonstrations.
The building will also house five classrooms, seating for 500 spectators and viewing galleries for the demonstration room and therapy room. The building will also include tack rooms, offices and a seminar room, as well as toilets and shower facilities.
Sustainability has also been high on the agenda for Houlton, who are the main contractors for the entire £25million project.
During the course of the build the contractors have had to deal with around 7,0000 tonnes of excavated material. All of this has been kept on site and used in this and the other projects. What this means of course, is that nothing has been sent to landfill and the carbon footprint for transporting this material is nil.
The arena itself has seen some 900 tonnes of recycled hardcore used from the demolition work, all timber comes from sustainable sources, concrete blocks are made from recycled materials and the building itself will have four solar panels attached to one of the gable walls.
The equine indoor arena as it looks now
The equine indoor arena Summer 2008
