Following a campaign by the Twentieth Century Society, the iconic Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Bradford was saved from demolition with a Grade II listing.
Originally delivered by local authority architects in 1978, the centre’s pioneering ‘big top’ is a landmark on the city skyline but had closed in 2019 due to rising costs. Since then, the brutalist building has been subject to arson attacks and vandalism and its future remains uncertain.
In partnership with the Twentieth Century Society – and with expert advice from the UK sports community – we created a proposal to reinvent the city landmark as a national centre for skateboarding & action sports.
The design is rooted in finding the brutalist structure a sustainable new purpose and providing young people locally with opportunity and fulfilment through sport.
Our proposals retain the iconic tented roof and elliptical concrete arches, adapting interior spaces occupied by the empty pool and sports halls to house a unique indoor/outdoor skating arena, a concrete bowl, climbing walls and café.
Studio suites support the development of digital skills including photography, video and broadcast production. Hospitality and private hire spaces create additional revenue for parties, away days and school visits.
A welcoming, pedestrianised approach connects with the neighbouring Muff Field Cricket Club and Sunny Bank Road allotments.
Serving as a provocation to advocate for a positive future for this significant listed building, the proposals were launched as Bradford became the UK’s City of Culture for 2025 - an established catalyst for culture-led regeneration – and were featured in The Guardian (read here).
As the UK’s youngest city - with 29% of the population under 20 – this reinvention of a local icon has the potential to create opportunity and aspiration for Bradford’s future generations.
“Ian Chalk Architects’ proposals for The Dunn show how, with imagination and vision, extraordinary listed buildings can be radically yet respectfully reinvented.”
Catherine Croft
Director of Twentieth Century Society