Oriam

Oriam is Scotland's national performance centre for sport, based at Heriot-Watt University's Riccarton campus in Edinburgh. The Scottish Rugby Union and the Scottish Football Association use it as a training facility, Heart of Midlothian F.C. rent the centre for first-team training and to run their academy. It is also used by other sports teams, students and members of the public.

History

A review of Scottish football, led by former First Minister of Scotland Henry McLeish, picked up on the lack of facilities in Scotland in the first report published in April 2010.^[1] In February 2012, Sport Minister Shona Robison announced that £25 million from the Scottish Government's Young Scots Fund would be put towards a new multi-sports centre which would include a national football academy.^[2] Universities, colleges and local authorities were invited to bid.^[3] By August 2013 there were three finalists.^[4] In September 2013, it was announced that the design by Reiach & Hall was chosen.^[5][6] The remaining £9 million towards the cost of building came from Sportscotland, Heriot-Watt University and the City of Edinburgh Council.^[7]

Construction work began in March 2015.^[8] The £33 million facility opened in August 2016. The indoor football pitch is covered by a curved steel frame with a PVC roof,^[9] the shape of which has been likened to the trajectory of "the goal which defied physics" which was scored by Brazilian football player Roberto Carlos against France in 1997.^[10][11][12] The building won the Future Building section at the 2016 Scottish Design Awards.^[13][14]

Sports

The Scottish Rugby Union and the Scottish Football Association have both made long-term commitments to using Oriam ahead of international fixtures.^[15] Heart of Midlothian F.C. use the facility to run their academy and for first-team training.^[16] The Scottish Handball Association, basketballscotland and Scottish Netball also use the facility.^[17] Furthermore, it is used by the recently formed professional women's team in basketball and handball, both launched in summer 2016.^[18] Unlike some elite performance facilities, Oriam will be available to other sports teams, students and members of the public.^[19][20] For the 2016–17 season, Hibernian F.C. will play their under-20 fixtures at Oriam.^[15]

Facilities

The centre has a FIFA-accredited indoor synthetic 3G pitch which is the largest of its type in Europe.^{[11][21][22][23][24]} Its dimensions of 116 yards by 76 yards are the same size as those of Hampden Park's pitch.^{[12][15][25][26]} At the midpoint of this playing space, the roof is 28m high and there is a 15m playing height at the sides.^[15] The space accommodates a viewing area that can seat 500 people.^[15] There is also a synthetic pitch outdoors. There are natural surfaces outside too- five grass football pitches and two grass rugby pitches.^[12]

Indoors there is a 12-court sports hall, eight squash courts and a four-court sports hall.^[27] Other facilities available on the high-performance side of the centre include a HydroWorx 3500i Series hydrotherapy pool with an integrated treadmill, a rehabilitation area and gym area for strength and conditioning.^[25]

A 160-bed hotel is to be located on the site, to open in 2017.^[12][19]

See also

Other indoor football facilities in Scotland:

• Toryglen Regional Football Centre (Glasgow)
• Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility (Motherwell)
• Aberdeen Sports Village (Aberdeen)

55°54′36″N 3°18′56″W / 55.9101°N 3.3156°W / 55.9101; -3.3156

References

External links

• Official website
• 'Snippet' image collection for Oriam at geograph