BMW Oracle Racing Base

Stephen Matthews Architects provided the concept design for this multi-functional facility supporting Oracle’s 2007 America’s Cup campaign. This complex was the base for the team’s activities in the lead-up to the competition and provided facilities for yacht design, fabrication, and maintenance; gymnasium spaces for team training; as well as administrative spaces such as offices, meeting rooms, public reception areas and entertaining spaces with full catering amenities. Technical requirements for the building included manoeuvring and storage space for the seven large shipping containers of team gear that is transported to a new base for each campaign. The structural design was carefully considered to allow for maximum flexibility of the floor plan if the building were to be taken over by another operator in future. Consideration was also give to how the building could be dismantled and reassembled on another site.