University of Glamorgan has opened the doors to its new £3.7m coaching and performance facility.

Designed by architects Holder Mathias, the dual-use centre includes a multi-purpose sports hall with six courts and an ancillary support block, a strength and conditioning lab for elite training, a lecture and meeting room, as well as a teaching facility with a notational analysis room.

Built by Midas Construction and located at Glamorgan Sport Park, the centre is the first of its type in Wales to be awarded a BREEAM Excellent rating for its sustainable design.

Stephen Hill, director at Holder Mathias, said: "Our designs had to take into account the University's calls for a sustainable building that would also look modern and eye-catching.

A unique aspect of the new facility is its glass-backed badminton courts which create the sense of an open sports hall while, practically, enabling spectators and coaches to see activity going on at a ground level, rather than only from a gallery.