Rebirth of Carrington: Restoring an Old Glory
Manchester United's Carrington Training Complex, nestled in the Cheshire countryside, has undergone a significant transformation, thanks to a refurbishment by Foster + Partners. The new design, costing £50 million, was undertaken with the primary focus on optimizing player health, wellbeing, and performance.
The refurbished facility now boasts an open and inviting atmosphere, with large windows and rooflights bringing natural daylight deep into the building. Timber panelling adds a touch of warmth, while new integrated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems ensure energy efficiency and a superior user experience.
The layout has been reconfigured to create a seamless, intuitive journey through the facility. Dedicated zones for recovery, preparation, performance, hydration, nutrition, medical treatment, and team collaboration are all easily accessible.
Key features include a new players' entrance providing direct access to dressing rooms, a ground floor with a hydration and nutrition area, a gym equipped with an altitude room, hydrotherapy pools, medical suites, and recovery spaces. Upstairs, a players' lounge with a glass facade and outdoor terrace overlooks the training pitches, a dining area connected to a professional kitchen, open-plan coaching offices, post-match analysis briefing rooms, and a media area with press conference and TV production studios.
The main lounge on the first floor boasts a clear view of the training pitches, while a striking spiral staircase takes everyone to this space. The facility's ground floor now features new changing areas, and a dining area in the centre of the main lounge connects with a state-of-the-art kitchen to support players' nutrition.
According to Sky, the design reconfigures the functional spaces to provide a seamless and intuitive journey through the building. The main lounge, with a continuous glass facade and an outdoor terrace overlooking the training pitches, is a standout feature.
Notable additions include a new "high altitude room," believed to be one of the "biggest of its kind in elite sport." Offices for coaching and post-match briefings are located on the first floor, and a separate media area, including a conference room for press briefings and a studio for TV and video content, has been included.
The majority of the original structure from when it was first built in 1999 has been kept. Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, has ambitions to take the club to new heights with this upgraded facility. The decision to upgrade may have been influenced by Cristiano Ronaldo's public comments about the lack of progress in the club's training facilities between his two stints.
Air-handling systems have been upgraded to provide finely tuned temperature and humidity control, ensuring the optimal environment for the players. These design elements foster collaboration, innovation, and a positive culture critical to the club’s future success. The project was completed on time and on budget after about a year of refurbishment and relocations, reflecting the club’s commitment to building a world-class performance environment with an emphasis on player health and wellbeing.
[1] The Guardian [2] Sky Sports [3] BBC Sport [4] The Telegraph [5] The Independent
- The renovated Manchester United training ground, Carrington Training Complex, focuses primarily on improving player health, wellbeing, and performance, with new zones for recovery, preparation, performance, hydration, nutrition, medical treatment, and team collaboration.
- Notable additions to the renovated facility include a new high altitude room, one of the biggest of its kind in elite sports, and separate media and coaching offices on the first floor.
- The revamped facility, costing £50 million, features an open and inviting atmosphere, with integrated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for energy efficiency.
- The new architectural design of the Carrington Training Complex has been praised for its seamless and intuitive journey, with key features such as the main lounge overlooking the training pitches and a striking spiral staircase.
