The University of Oxford commissioned the first phase of its masterplan redevelopment: a new state-of-the-art four court sports hall, set to transform the experience of sport at Oxford for the staff and students, and to be enjoyed by the public and local community.

Set in the grounds of the iconic Iffley Road running track, made famous by Sir Roger Bannister’s sub-four-minute mile, the pioneering new building was designed in collaboration with Sport England who praised the scheme for its innovation and for embracing modern technology.

At the heart of the new hall is a glass ‘smart floor’ — the first of its kind used in UK sport — which offers a unique opportunity to practice and compete in 84 different sports, changing marking lines via a touch screen, and without the distraction of multiple floor markings. An LED array beneath the glass floor has been developed in collaboration with the University for over five years before being implemented.
The wall linings of the sports hall are a specialist acoustic timber panel, which provides a warm and rich feel to the hall with built-in acoustic absorption, reinforced to respond to the impact of sports, and the building embraces low and zero carbon technologies, for example driving sustainable performance by capitalising on the heat rejection from the neighbouring pool.

Key features for this first phase of development also include new dry changing rooms, refurbishment of the existing wet changing rooms, a reception, and creation
of a new café. The entire southern elevation is technically aligned with the future redevelopment phase in mind.

On face value, this development offers the students of Oxford University somewhere to practice and perform at the highest of levels. Culturally, this scheme offers a unique and transformational experience for Oxford and the local community to benefit from the investment. The hall’s glazed entrance screen provides onlookers with a visual connection to the activity within, encouraging participation.

The building has been named after the late Dr Acer Nethercott, the Beijing Olympics silver medallist and Oxford graduate who coxed the University in the Boat Race three times and led them to victory twice.