Beacon of Light
{{Short description|Sports, community and education facility, in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Beacon of Light
| image = Beacon of Light.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| map_type = Tyne and Wear
| mapframe-zoom = 14
| location = Stadium Park, Sunderland
| location_country = United Kingdom
| architectural_style =
| status = Completed
| start_date = 5 October 2016
| completion_date = May 2018
| opened = 14 September 2018
| building_type = Sports & Education Centre
| roof = {{convert|26|m}}
| coordinates = {{coord|54|54|58.68|N|1|23|25.44|W}}
| top_floor =
| floor_count = 6
| elevator_count = 2
| cost = £19 million GBP
| floor_area = {{convert|11140|sqm|abbr=on}}
| structural_engineer = s h e d
| main_contractor = Tolent Construction
| developer =
| owner = Foundation of Light
| management =
| architect = FaulknerBrowns
| embedded =
| references =
}}
The Beacon of Light is a sports, community and education facility, in Sunderland. The £19m{{Cite news|url=https://www.safc.com/news/club-news/2018/march/beacon-of-light-video|title=Take a glimpse at the Beacon of Light|date=2018-03-23|work=Sunderland Association Football Club|access-date=2018-11-07|language=en-GB}} facility was commissioned by the Foundation of Light, and became the headquarters of the charity when it opened in September 2018. The beacon is in Stadium Park, alongside the Sunderland Aquatic Centre and the North Stand of the Stadium of Light.
History
The Foundation of Light opened an education facility, The Centre of Light, within the Stadium of Light in 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/sunderland-echo/20141105/281745562668180|title=|via=PressReader|access-date=2018-11-07}} The classrooms were a huge success, so much so that the Foundation outgrew them. This prompted Foundation chief executive Lesley Spuhler to look to commission a bigger venue.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/business-interview-lesley-spuhler-chief-9265078|title=Business Interview: Lesley Spuhler, chief executive of the Foundation of Light|last=Ford|first=Coreena|date=2015-05-17|work=journallive|access-date=2018-11-07|language=en|archive-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025606/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/business-interview-lesley-spuhler-chief-9265078|url-status=dead}}
The Beacon was given approval to begin construction in October 2015, and received financial support from the Tom Cowie Foundation, and Foundation of Light trustees Peter Vardy and Bob Murray.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/education/sunderland-s-beacon-of-light-will-get-seven-figure-sum-from-famous-families-1-7526408|title=Beacon of Light will get Seven Figures Sum from Famous Families|website=Sunderland Echo}} Further investors included the North East Local Enterprise Partnership,{{Cite news|url=https://www.foundationoflight.co.uk/beacon-of-light/news/north-east-lep-backs-beacon-of-light-to-create-jobs/|title=North East LEP backs Beacon to create jobs|work=Foundation of Light|access-date=2018-11-07|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025636/https://www.foundationoflight.co.uk/beacon-of-light/news/north-east-lep-backs-beacon-of-light-to-create-jobs/|archive-date=8 November 2018|url-status=dead}} Arriva,{{Cite news|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/education/500-000-arriva-investment-is-just-the-ticket-for-beacon-of-light-1-7879098|title=£500,000 Arriva investment is just the ticket for Beacon of Light|access-date=2018-11-07|language=en}} and Tombola.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/our-region/sunderland/top-of-the-shop-beacon-of-light-lands-500-000-tombola-donation-1-8512856|title=Top of the shop - Beacon of Light lands £500,000 tombola donation|access-date=2018-11-09|language=en}}
The Beacon was designed to provide both indoor and outdoor sporting facilities and spaces for both adult and school-level education. It can also support events and exhibitions, with a 2,084 Square metre exhibition space supporting a maximum capacity of 3,425.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/PlanDM/StreamDocPage/obj.pdf?DocNo=913278|title=Beacon of Light - Design and Access Statement|last=Sunderland City Council}} It is expected to serve up to 300,000 people per year.
Construction was complete in May 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/sir-bob-murray-s-pride-as-beacon-of-light-is-handed-over-1-9167822|title=Pride as Beacon is Handed Over|website=Sunderland Echo}} The Beacon was opened in phases, with people able to use the football facilities from June 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/our-region/sunderland/opening-date-announced-for-beacon-of-light-pitches-win-a-month-of-games-worth-180-1-9188108|title=Opening date announced for Beacon of Light pitches + win a month of games worth £180|access-date=2018-11-07|language=en}} It officially opened on 14 September 2018.
Facilities
= Outdoor =
- 6 outdoor Five-a-side football pitches with 3G turf
- Outdoor sports courts
= Indoor =
| class="wikitable"
|+ |Level 0 |
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| Level 1
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| Level 2
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| Level 3
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| Level 5
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The Beacon is designed in a cube shape with a luminous roof which lights up at night.{{cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/our-region/sunderland/top-of-the-shop-beacon-of-light-lands-500-000-tombola-donation-1-8512856| title=Top of the shop - Beacon of Light lands £500,000 tombola donation
| work=Sunderland Echo| publisher=Jonston Press}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sunderland A.F.C.}}
{{City of sunderland}}
{{Authority control}}