28 February 2005
£7 million for University sport facilities
The University of Dundee is spending £7 million on new sports facilities in Dundee in an
unprecedented investment in health and wellbeing in the city.
University Court last week approved the investment which will see the university house a regional
centre for strength and conditioning for performance sport and become a hub for health and
wellbeing activity for the local community. Extended facilities at Riverside and on university
campus including hockey pitches, floodlit five-a-side pitches, a new fitness suite and three squash
courts will be available for use by the public, staff and students at very competitive prices.
At Riverside sports ground, two state-of-the-art artificial grass surfaces for hockey and six
five-a-side outdoor floodlit pitches will be developed. A pavilion with new changing facilities and
a social area will be built. The development work will begin in June with facilities opening in
late 2006 at a cost of £3.4m.
On campus, three squash courts, a large extended fitness suite and a special strength and
conditioning centre for top level athletes will be situated on the ground floor of a new northwards
extension to the current sports centre. The fitness suite will cover 450 square metres with a large
range of training equipment including extensive cardiovascular training provision. Two teaching
rooms will be built on the second floor. One will be equipped for trainee primary school teachers
learning how to teach physical education. The other will house the University’s innovative exercise
programmes for cardiac and diabetes rehabilitation. The new build will cost £3.6 million and will
be completed in summer 2007.
Director of the Institute of Sport and Exercise at the University of Dundee Brian Ewing welcomed
the investment: "Sports, wellbeing, health and fitness are high priorities for the University of
Dundee and this significant investment reflects the university's commitment to sport. We want our
students to have the facilities and support to take them to the highest level of their sport while
at the same time providing the best opportunities for health and fitness for staff and students.
"This substantial commitment is also a significant investment in our local community and in the
city of Dundee. We will be opening up all of these new facilities and classes to public users at
very competitive prices."
The new development will create a number of new positions at both sites.
Contact Brian Ewing 01382 344117 or 07778 305830
By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk | 
