During the design process, local planners initially timber cladding to the main facades as the arena sits within the 200-acre historic parkland of Wivenhoe Park, close to the Grade II listed Wivenhoe Manor, two miles from the city centre. The original proposal for the timber cladding wasn’t in keeping with the brief or the wishes of the university, and from a facilities management perspective it would require regular and significant maintenance.

Taking the inspiration from Wivenhoe Manor’s and the existing sports buildings terracotta brickwork, we successfully persuaded local planners to accept a bespoke bronze horizontal cladding panel on the outside of the arena. Reference was also made to the Tower blocks of student halls built in the 1950’5 with Blue engineering bricks.

The result is a building that makes a strong visual statement of the University’s commitment to having a campus of international standard, and facilities for its students, staff and community.