MATHER & CO. CELEBRATES OPENING OF ULSTER RUBGY NEVIN SPENCE CENTRE
The Nevin Spence Centre at the Kingspan Stadium, Ulster Rugby is set to open its doors this month following extensive design planning by Mather & Co.
Funded by Northern Ireland Executive, the new education centre has built its foundations in memory of Nevin Spence, a young Ulster Rugby player who tragically lost his life in a farming accident along with his father Noel and his brother Graham in September 2012.
Housed in the Memorial End Stand, the Nevin Spence Centre contains interactives, audio-visual content and original objects that enable visitors to explore the history of rugby in Ulster and the benefits that the game has for players, supporters and society in general.
Mather & Co. was tasked with presenting this legacy project through an exhibition that is both engaging and pays homage to the former Ulster player. The design agency has developed and executed a centre that showcases the science and technology that underpins the game of rugby but also allows the values of the sport to shine; a first for any rugby club in Northern Ireland.
The exhibition has an array of impressive displays from The Rugby Body, a digital interactive installation that analyses the health, movement and biology of each player to a number of physical rugby challenges in an innovative virtual environment.
The Nevin Spence Centre also features club treasures and significant historical items including the lion carried by the unbeaten 1974 British and Irish Lions, Dr Jack Kyle’s Ireland jersey and the Ulster School’s Cup Trophy.
The Centre was formally opened on 27 August by Nevin Spence’s mother Essie, and two sisters Emma and Laura.
Sarah Clarke at Mather & Co. said: “With a number of rugby-focused projects under our belts we were excited to show our expertise with this new education centre. And with such a special message at its heart, we were determined to amplify the Ulster team’s values and heritage in the name of Nevin Spence.”
“It is designed to engage with visitors of all ages from rugby fanatics to those who have a mild interest in the sport. It will tell the story of how rugby has developed in Northern Ireland and how the sport is much more than just a game; it’s a way of life.”
Bobby Stewart, President of the Ulster Branch of the the IRFU, said: “This centre tells the history of rugby in Ulster, while demonstrating the important benefits of a healthy lifestyle and I have no doubt that it will become an important resource for schools and the education community across the province.
