Sobell Leisure Centre

Located on Hornsey Road in Islington, North London, Sobell Leisure Centre has been a cornerstone of community recreation since its opening in 1973. Designed pro bono by the esteemed Richard Seifert Partnership, the centre has long served as a vibrant hub for sports and leisure activities, attracting approximately 500,000 visitors annually. Originally, the centre offered a diverse range of facilities, including an ice rink, trampoline park, sports hall, squash courts, gym, spa and various exercise classes.

 

In August 2022, the centre sustained significant damage due to a burst water main on Hornsey Road, resulting in extensive flooding that severely impacted the ground floor facilities. Key areas affected included the trampoline park, soft play area, ice rink, squash courts and sports hall, necessitating a full closure and a comprehensive refurbishment initiative.

 

Our team were appointed to provide architectural expertise and construction management services, ensuring the restoration, internal remodelling and enhancement of the centre’s offerings. A major transformation includes the replacement of the original ice rink with a state-of-the-art soft play zone. This new facility, designed to accommodate up to 200 children, features an array of slides, tunnels and bridges. Additionally, a new café has been introduced, offering parents and visitors a comfortable space to enjoy refreshments while watching their children at play.

 

The existing sports hall has been refurbished and sub-divided by a full-height internal partition to provide an eight-court sports hall, within its west part, capable of hosting national and international sporting events; the hall now accommodates a range of disciplines, including basketball, handball, badminton, volleyball, netball and five-a-side football. The trampoline park has also been upgraded, now located within the east part of the hall, boasting capacity for 350 children and adults, as well as an exciting new zipline feature.

As part of the redevelopment, MA have implemented significant fire safety enhancements, including upgraded partition walls, improved fire compartmentation and optimised fire exit routes with fire doors and fire curtains, ensuring a safer environment for all visitors.

With these extensive renovations, Sobell Leisure Centre continues to serve the Islington community, offering modernised facilities and programmes designed to promote health, wellness and social engagement for residents and visitors alike.