還沒正式運營就已吸引大量游客？這座建筑項目什么來頭？

來自建筑事務所的描述：這座位于英國的“燈箱”是Light基地的獨特活動中心，其中包括參與式與互動式教育區、健身區、活動區、工作區。建筑位于Light體育館旁側，這里也是Sunderland AFC基地，這座“燈箱”給人們提供舒適且充滿活力的環境，讓人們可以在這里溝通玩耍或者進行高效的學習，提升人們的生活品質。

Text description provided by the architects. The first of its kind in the UK, Beacon of Light is a unique centre for the Foundation of Light, consisting of engaging and interactive zones in education; health and fitness; sport and play; and the world of work. Located next to Stadium of Light, the home of Sunderland AFC, Beacon of Light provides a vibrant and feel-good environment where people can meet socially; where they can learn and take part in courses to gain skills and qualifications; and where their fascination and love of football will start them on a journey to improve their quality of life.

設計的挑戰在于建筑需要結合兩個不同性質的空間，其中一個是多功能的運動大廳，這個大廳有特殊的聲學與燈光需求，以及戶外人工草地。因此建筑師將屋頂“足球場所”堆疊放置，該場所位于輕質結構下方，其下方是共享社區、教育設施，以及運動大廳。

The fundamental design challenge was accommodating two inherently different spaces within one complex: a multi-use, sprung-floored, highly-conditioned sports hall, with specific acoustic and lighting requirements, and an ‘outdoor’ artificial grass pitch. The inventive, functional solution stacks a roof-top ‘Football Barn’, created under a lightweight structure, on top of shared community and education facilities and a controlled, insulated ‘box’, housing the sports hall.

這樣的處理能夠減少建筑密度，同時最大化外部空間場所，同時能夠促進商業的運營，提供更多的活動空間，也提升了自身的“燈箱”特性。建筑的照明設施色彩能夠進行變換，這也使得使用者能夠根據不同的活動需求來改變建筑的外觀形態。在比賽時，建筑則呈現Sunderland AFC的紅白條紋狀，在其他的節假日，建筑項目也會綻放出相應的色彩。

The arrangement minimises the overall footprint—maximising external space for 5-a-side pitches, contributing to the business plan—and creates height, emphasising it as a regional beacon, especially in the immediate context of a stadium. A colour-changeable lighting scheme allows the Foundation to customise the appearance of the building to mark specific events. On match days it’s illuminated in the red and white stripes of Sunderland AFC, and through other bespoke colourways it is able to promote campaigns such as, Show Racism the Red Card and World Diabetes Day.

三層通高的“街道”貫穿整座建筑，吸引著來自各方的人群，將各個功能空間連接起來，提升人們的參與性。樓梯組成主要的游覽路線，它貫穿各個樓層，也增加了人們的活動量。

The triple-height ‘street’, running through the building, facilitates visibility - engaging the interest of the community and passers-by from the outside and from within, across the multiple spaces, to encourage ‘cross-participation’. A feature staircase, rising through all floors encourages people to use it as their main point of circulation, increasing physical activity.

項目的預算為1800萬英鎊，資金主要來源為個人、企業、信托機構，這些金額直到項目的施工后期才募集到位。因此建筑師減少施工預算，提升了整座建筑的性價比。在設計初始階段，鋼結構的應用提升了結構的靈活性，相較于混凝土而言，鋼結構也對于環境更為友好。另外，建筑師還使用了模塊化策略。諸如墻體、聚碳酸酯覆層、玻璃幕墻、拉伸織物等建筑部件都以300mm為基準，構成了60 x 60m的基底面積。

The ￡18m budget for the project was fully-funded by multiple grants and donations from individuals, businesses and charitable trusts, with the final total not reached until the latter stages of construction. It was therefore critical to ensure that the design represented exceptional value for money and was buildable within the agreed budget. From concept stage, a steel-structured solution was favoured, for its ability to deliver greater affordability, flexibility and lower environmental impact of concrete alternatives. Embracing modern methods of construction, modularity was then the key. The building’s ‘kit of parts’, including brickwork, polycarbonate cladding, curtain-wall glazing and tensile fabric, is based on multiples of 300mm, factored from its 60 x 60 metre footprint.

在正式投入使用之前，這座建筑每個星期大約會有4500名參觀者，在2020年，這一數字預計能達到6000人。這座建筑吸引了各式各樣的人群，他們能夠在這里學習，進行健康的生活方式，同時參與各項活動。由于這座建筑的存在，其利益相關者在未來20年內可以獲得約7300萬英鎊的社會投資回報。

In its opening year the building is averaging around 4,500 visitors each week. By 2020 this is projected to rise to around 6,000. The building has already engaged a diverse range of people, giving them access to a valuable range of educational, wellbeing and healthy lifestyle resources as well as presenting opportunities to participate in a multitude of activities. Through its work at Beacon of Light it is predicted that the Foundation will generate up to ￡73m worth of social return-on-investment over the next twenty years.