LISTEN: Milestone For Major Sports Facility In Edinburgh
The construction of Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre at Heriot-Watt University, is well underway.
With the doors of the £33m state-of-the-art multi-sport centre set to open in August 2016, the final piece of steel is now being put in by constructors.
Our reporter Shiona McCallum went for a sneak preview and you can listen to her report here:
Once completed, the multi-sport centre will include a full-sized indoor pitch with seating for 500 spectators, top-level grass and synthetic outdoor pitches, a high performance strength and conditioning centre, a high performance medical centre and hydrotherapy pool, fitness centres and studios, a 12-court sports hall with 300 seats and various support services.
Oriam will also become the performance base for the Scottish FA, Scottish Rugby Union, sportscotland institute of sport (East), Basketball Scotland, Scottish Handball and Scottish Squash & Racketball.
Catriona McAllister, Oriam’s Chief Executive, said: “As every day passes we see the centre take another step towards completion and we are all hugely excited about the year ahead along with our funders and partners.
“The final piece of steel going in represents another milestone in the journey towards opening next year when we will be able to boast an incredible facility which will benefit high performance athletes as well as local users, university students and staff.”
Developed as a result of findings in the McLeish report into Scottish football, Oriam aims to provide Scotland’s top sportsmen and women with the facilities, access and support services pivotal for successful performance on the international stage. In 2012 the Scottish Government committed £25m of funding and in December that year organisations were invited to bid to host and operate the centre. Heriot-Watt University, in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, were successful in their bid to host the new centre.