Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen has invested over £10 million in a state-of-the-art sports facility, which sees a dramatic improvement in sporting infrastructure available for the region and also acts as a social hub for the Garthdee campus. The facility features a 25m swimming pool, two gyms, climbing wall and bouldering room, cafe bar, three exercise studios and a vast sports hall. RGU: SPORT provides opportunities for students, staff and the wider community, of all levels of ability, to participate in sport and physical activity.

The glare problem that Architen Landrell was approached to resolve was through roof lights above and to the side of the sports complex reception desk. The university wanted a shading solution that would not only resolve the glare issue, but also provide a sculptural solution in keeping with the sporty feel of the whole reception area. With budgets being limited, a series of suspended parabolic kites was designed to spiral down over the desk while increasing in size, offering the shading required as well as a dynamic sculptural centrepiece for the reception area.

Each kite is manufactured from a PVC-coated glass mesh fabric that is fire-rated to BS476 Parts 6 & 7, Class O, and tensioned on to rolled steel spars with a powder-coated finish.