A NORTH-East architects has completed a £5m sports development that will help Olympic rowers.

Space Group has completed work on a new high performance training centre for rowing on behalf of Durham University.

The firm, based in Newcastle, also carried out an extension and refurbishment of the university's existing Graham Sports Centre and the construction of a new purpose built boat house at Maiden Castle, in Durham.

Durham University will host Sri Lanka's athletes ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games at both Maiden Castle and Queen's Campus in Stockton-on-Tees.

The facility includes a high-tech rowing tank which simulates the movement and feel of a boat through water.

Andrew Grounsell, associate director of Space Group, which began work on the project in January 2009, said: "It's been great to be involved in a project which could potentially give the region's sporting status a huge boost - it's been a pleasure to work with the University and see the sports development evolve into a state of the art sport complex for students and the community alike."

The project marks the latest addition to the architects work on sports facilities for higher education establishments, which have recently included Stockton Riverside Colleges' Bede Sports Centre and the impending completion of York University Sports Village and 25 metre pool, in 2012.

Space Group is made up of eight companies working across architectural, interior design, surveying and construction services.

The company has more than 150 people working across its offices in the North East, Yorkshire, North West and London.