Sports Complex Design for Severe Weather
Putting together plans for a sports complex is a lot of work, and it can be easy to miss minor details without the guidance of a professional group like SFA. Something that is often overlooked is how the structure and function of a sports complex can be affected by severe weather. Depending on your location, inclement weather can present a significant hurdle to operation. In this blog, Sports Facilities Advisory offers some general advice about design factors to keep in mind that can protect against the local climate.
Design for Disaster
Extensive research will need to be done into how to design your building to keep it protected against severe weather. There are many details to consider, such as designing for flood protection, offering safety areas for employees and customers, offering resources for situations where customers must wait out the weather, and installing alarms or warning systems.
Consider the typical weather conditions in the area, and assess how other large facilities in the area protect against inclement weather and major emergencies. Researching reliable weather forecasting — and having the resources ready — can protect your employees, your customers, and your business.
Consider Energy Independence
Although it can be complicated to implement, it is worth considering some form of energy independence. Depending on what your sports complex is designed to provide, self-sufficiency options such as solar power and backup generators can be a benefit in situations where severe weather has made traditional power options unavailable.
This is not just beneficial for keeping your complex open during severe weather. If employees or customers need to wait out a weather situation in your complex, an independent power source means you can provide a safer environment. An independent power source can also protect the facility itself during power outages, keeping security systems on to prevent break-ins and keeping the heat on to prevent freezing pipes.
Develop a Disaster Recovery Plan
No one wants a disaster to happen, but sometimes they are inevitable. If your complex is going to be serving an area prone to severe weather like tornadoes, ice storms or flooding, there is always the risk of things getting out of hand. Preparation is key.
Beyond designing the facility to withstand the weather, you should also develop a disaster recovery plan. A disaster recovery plan means that you will have the information and resources that you need to rebuild or restart your business should the worst happen. The more detail you include in this plan the better.
Start Building Your Foundation with Sports Facilities Advisory
This general advice may be helpful, but it is always best to get specific guidance when it comes to planning, funding, building, and operating a sports complex. That is exactly why The Sports Facilities Advisory was founded. Contact Sports Facilities Advisory to get your project off the ground.
