Oatridge Equestrian
Oatridge College is an agricultural, Further Education establishment, based near Ecclesmachan, West of Edinburgh. The College offers a comprehensive range of course to students from both UK and non UK locations.
Location: Broxburn
Client: Oatridge College/Sports Scotland
Cost: £2.5m
Completion: 2006
As part of a team, Blyth & Blyth were engaged to assist in the development of the College’s masterplan to improve, replace and add to the building stock and general facilities of the campus.
The major part of this commission related to the design and construction of the new Scottish National Equestrian Centre. The facility was funded by the College and also Sport Scotland and comprises a clear span, 50m x 80m arena, judges area, a warm-up arena and associated administrative facilities. The Equine Centre is widely used and is a great asset to both Oatridge College and equestrians throughout Scotland.
The main structure is a 50m clear spanning portal framed arrangement, the bases for which are tied using high tensile steel rods set in ducts beneath the main riding surface.
The handling of drainage was a key concern on the basis that the new Arena roof, being an impermeable layer, created a substantial volume of water. Attenuation by means of a detention basis was required prior to discharge to a local watercourse at a rate agreed with both SEPA and the Local Authority’s Flood Prevention Officer.