Myplace, Doncaster

When Doncaster Metropolitan Council was successful in their bid for BIG Lottery funding to replace an outdated youth centre with two brand new Myplace community centres in the Bentley and Denaby areas, the tender was challenging.

Myplace Centres are known for providing world class services that support and engage young people in disadvantaged communities. No two Myplace Centres are the same, because each one is designed to meet the needs of local people. So top quality construction, together with good environmental credentials and most importantly an individual design that would meet the differing needs of the two different communities was at the heart of the brief.

The £5 million contract was awarded to Wildgoose Construction, who together with Robinson Architects, specified Senior’s range of aluminium windows doors and curtain walling. Thanks to the superb thermal efficiency of the chosen SPW600e windows and SCW+ curtain wall, fabricated and installed by Alusec, the project was given an “excellent” BREEAM rating, fulfilling the environmental requirements and providing a value engineered solution that exceeded expectations.

Specifying the same fenestration for both centres ensured economies of scale, whilst the versatility of the range allowed Robinson Architects to produce two entirely different yet complementary contemporary designs which met the needs of the communities.

The £3 Million 3 storey Myplace Centre (Park Lodge) at Bentley was completed in 40 weeks and includes facilities for youngsters aged 11 to 19, such as a dance/drama/music studio, Sports Hall, Classrooms, clinic, cafe plus office and meeting rooms for local community groups as well as allotments and outdoor social space.

The £2 Million 2 storey Myplace Centre (Tom Hill Youth Club) at Denaby was completed in 38 weeks and includes a fully equipped gym with sauna, a multi-use games area (MUGA), a modern multi-media room, a dance studio, café and a clinic for young people to receive advice.

The Park Lodge Centre focuses on learning, school groups, sport and dance, whilst The Tom Hill Youth Club offers a range of music and sporting facilities including boxing. (The Tom Hill Amatuer Boxing Club is located at the Tom Hill Youth Centre.) Both Centres offer Duke of Edinburgh awards and football and include an arts space/hub.

The two Centres are now full of exciting activities and services for young people living in, and near, Doncaster. Both provide a safe, welcoming and innovative environment that helps young people to socialise, have fun and gain vital life skills to help them maximise their potential and make the most of their lives.