• Covers over 8,300sqm plan area
• 2 Layer ETFE cushions give maximum light
• ETFE foil offers top environmental credentials

Destined to become one of the most state of the art training facilities in Europe, this Premier League football team demanded only the highest quality and highest performance materials in the architectural world for their training ground – so it was natural that ETFE cushions forming the crowning glory to this modern sports facility.

Covering a 75m x 112m footprint, the new training facility is covered by a highly translucent 2 layer ETFE cushion roof to give maximum light into the space below. The 48no. ETFE cushions measure approximately 4.65m x 40m to give wide clear spans with minimal structural interruption and a beautiful view of the sky.

The facility also incorporates a single layer ETFE wall to one end, taking the place of traditional glazing to offer a lightweight, cost effective and architecturally beautiful solution.

Minimal environmental impact and preservation of the area’s biodiversity were very important to the design team, reflected in a number of ways by their choice of ETFE foil:

• The ETFE cushion roof transmits light across the UV spectrum meaning that it allows natural grass to grown inside the indoor space
• The lightweight nature of ETFE cushions in comparison to glass means that the amount of steel support structure is significantly less, reducing the overall carbon footprint.
• ETFE foil’s excellent environmental credentials make it a sustainable choice as a cladding material