A full Mapei system forms part of the new Braywick Leisure Centre – a £33 million state-of-the-art facility designed by Plymouth-based BRL Architects. The new iconic Centre in Maidenhead replaces the Magnet Leisure Centre; it combines recreational, leisure and cultural facilities on a larger footprint, whilst using 70% less energy. The project was delivered by Wates Construction who worked closely with engineering consultants, Hoare Lea, to meet the sustainability targets.
Situated on the edge of Braywick Nature Reserve, under a striking sweeping roof, the centre features a 400m2 internal covered top lit ‘street’, from which all areas are accessed. Facilities include a 10-lane pool and trainer pool – each with spectator seating – a 200 station gymnasium, artisan café, dance studio and 2000m2 sports hall. As well as providing a local community hub, the centre also hosts national and international events. Mapei products were used from early design stage to completion, in the installation of floor and wall coverings, for concrete repairs, new construction, tanking, waterproofing and structural reinforcement.
The Mapei specification included Eporip solvent-free epoxy adhesive for construction joints, bonding of screeds and localised concrete repair. Within pool areas, changing villages and corridors, products used included Mapei Topcem fast drying hydraulic binder, Planitop Fast 330 quick-setting, fibre-reinforced mortar, Mapelastic Smart highly flexible, cementitious waterproof membrane, Mapetex Sel non-woven, macro-holed polypropylene reinforcing fabric, Keraflex Maxi S1 deformable cementitious adhesive and Keraquick S1 quick-setting, deformable cementitious adhesive.
Mapei Ultracolor Plus anti-efflorescence, quick-setting and drying polymer-modified grout – featuring water-repellent DropEffect® and mould-resistant BioBlock® – was used for all tiled areas, along with Mapesil AC pure mould-resistant acetic silicone sealant for all movement joints. Other products specified included Mapemortar HB R3 high build, shrinkage compensated repair mortar.
Within the street area, Keraquick XL Fibrelite fibre reinforced cement based rapid setting adhesive was used for the installation of tiles, along with Keraflex flexible cementitious adhesive.
For floor installation in the sports hall and sport stores, Mapei systems included Eco Prim T Plus solvent-free low odour all-purpose primer, Mapeproof One Coat single-coat epoxy surface damp proof membrane and Ultraplan Renovation Screed 3240 – a fibre reinforced self-levelling compound. Other products included Mapegrout SV quick-setting and hardening, compensated-shrinkage hi-flow mortar for spectator seating and balustrade bases and Mapefill GP non-shrink grout for spectator seating areas.
