Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

Project
My Palace Programme

Team
Greater London Authority, Mott MacDonald, Hawkins Brown and Erect Architecture

Location
South London - Bromley

We are passionate about the development of communities through modes of equitable engagement, co-design and co-production. Through our dynamic approach we strive to create more inclusive spaces where individuals can come together to shape their shared future. This collaborative project with the Greater London Authority allowed us to put these principles into action.

Beyond the Box were commissioned to lead on the development and delivery of diversity and inclusion initiatives as well as social value provisions, as part of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre upgrade plans, working in partnership with the Greater London Authority, Mott MacDonald, Hawkins Brown and Erect Architecture.

We designed a strategy that facilitated space for culture and community to connect whilst gaining valuable insights from a generation often underrepresented in the engagement process.

As part of the strategy, we launched the ‘My Palace Programme’, a new initiative designed to explore what equity in design looks like for young Londoners, whilst simultaneously creating social value outcomes through paid employment, skills and leadership development and network expansion for the local youth community.

Watch Our Project Film

Experience the journey of our project at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Our film captures the collaborative process, introduces our collaborators, and showcases the outcomes and voices of the community we connected with. Discover how we’re designing inclusive and accessible spaces through dynamic collaborative design.

Empowering Young Leaders and Designers

We recruited a team of sports leaders and equity designers who received specialised training from our team to understand the essence of designing for access and inclusion. They learned the distinctions between equality and equity and how to integrate these principles into their work at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. The training program explored various resources and precedents, including industry standards and good practice guidelines and frameworks.

Role of Sports Leaders

The sports leaders brought their passion for organising and hosting sports, wellness, and movement sessions to life at Crystal Palace. With assistance from Beyond the Box, they identified their target audience and created inclusive session plans, collaborating with our equity designers to uncover insights from session attendees.

Role of Equity Designer

Our equity designers observed the sessions conducted by the sports leaders, gathering insights on access and inclusion constraints and opportunities from participants and their accompanying parents, siblings, and carers. These designers then formulated their concepts and design solutions for inclusive and accessible facilities at Crystal Palace based on their insights and observations. They later presented their research and proposals to the wider project team at City Hall.

“From being a little girl that didn’t have the funds to further my childhood athletics training, to feeling discouraged and growing up feeling increasingly like an imposter on the track, this project gave me confidence to know that I am still capable. My past doesn’t define me, and if I want to I can. The project taught me about my self and my love to facilitate and give what I didn’t have, to make people feel like they can - and this is something I will take with me.”

JAMILLA DAUDA - SPORTS LEADER
“What I enjoyed most about being part of the My Palace Programme was the sense of community built/created within ourselves and how we were able to communicate effectively. I feel as though I've gained very good social skills and confidence and a new level of understanding within the world or architecture. My biggest takeaway would be how being part of the project opened my eyes about representation and inclusivity, and how much responsibility architects have in providing for the community because they're not just building and designing for the way it looks but for the future as the thing they create stand as the foundations for a lifetime

GIDEON ATISELE - EQUITY DESIGNER
“Participating in this project has helped me identify a job role that suits me perfectly: 'Equity Designer.' I now feel confident in communicating the need for this role within architecture. Additionally, I have learned the importance of active engagement in projects, recognising that they impact not only the client but also the community. Overall, this experience has boosted my confidence and helped me discover my passion for architectural illustrations.”

TAJA DENNIS - EQUITY DESIGNER
"Taking part in the My Palace programme helped me understand the true meaning of equity in design and the importance of inclusive design within architectural projects. It has highlighted the importance of involving those who use the spaces to achieve successful feedback into people and how they use the space. Having the opportunity to work with architects from renowned practices, as well as the GLA, and to be able to stand up in front of them at City Hall was an amazing experience”.

EDIZ ALI - EQUTY DESIGNER
“What I have enjoyed about the project was the opportunity of being able to be part of the foundation of a team that was able to revamp a sports centre that I have been going to practically my whole life and that it will become a better and more successful place in the future for myself and others that will use it. Being part of this project to me felt like a privilege as what we did was a stepping stone and boost forward for the people that need the information to improve the centre and now there are many ideas and ways for it to happen. The Project allowed me to look at another field of sport where instead of playing it, I can use the knowledge and experience I gained over the years to instead improve other people ”

DARREN GOMPE-DEYO - SPORTS LEADER
‘Working with Beyond the Box and the My Palace cohort of young Londoners has captured a wealth of creative insights, curious questioning and innovative design proposals for the CPNSC redevelopment project. The redevelopment will secure a future for the facility for the next generation- which is why it’s so important that young people have a voice in the design and direction of the project. The unique engagement approach and careful research and observations undertaken by the cohort will contribute to a more equitable, more accessible centre and a better, more inclusive experience for all.’

SHONA SCALES, PROGRAMME MANAGER, GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY