Our new spectator gallery for Kendal Snowsports Club was opened at the end of March 2014 by club member Emma Lonsdale who was a member of the GB Team at the Sochi Winter Olympics 2014.

 

Built close to Kendal Castle and located within the Kendal conservation area the spectator gallery built in robust sections of European Larch provides a covered viewing area overlooking the training slope. A number of bold projecting balconies provide space for small groups to gather and for wheelchair viewing. These balconies also allow for the introduction of daylight and modelling of the west facing facade. Other features on the facade are randomly placed square 'peepholes' with orange tinted glazing in heavy duty galvanised steel frames. The spectator 'seating' is sufficiently steeply angled to allow comfortable use but prevents unauthorised uses such as walking or running on the seating.

 

The area below spectator level provides generous storage for club equipment.

 

A particular challenge was the continously rising levels at the base of the training slope which required careful consideration at design stage and equal care during construction which took place wholey on site from a temporary joiner's workshop constructed on site