Green Building Saracens rugby club 1/4
Saracen's artificial 'waterless' pitch being laid
Levelling the playing field
When Saracens rugby club set out to produce the most sustainable and energy-efficient stadium in the UK, the plan was to
revive, recover and regenerate one of the "green lungs of north London". Saracens rugby club community director Gordon
Banks talks to Leigh Stringer about achieving a "truly sustainable" stadium and how the clubs new artificial pitch is starting
a revolution.
Located in the London Borough of
Barnet, Saracens' new stadium is situated
on a green belt, making it imperative
from the outset that environmental
considerations were taken into account
every stage of the plan. From the selection
of the site, the design of the building
and the construction process, all the
way through to the final occupation, the
aim was to transform an increasingly
dilapidated site into a vibrant and
sustainable sports hub, used for rugby,
athletics and community sport. And,
says Gordon Banks, community director
of 10 years, the structure had to blend
into the site's green environment. The
result of this commitment to minimising
environmental impact, is the only stadium
in the country that has been designed and
built to BREEAM Excellent standards.
Pushing the build further, the stadium,
