Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Architects aim for highest standards in sustainability in rebuilding of Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre

Architects aim for highest standards in sustainability in rebuilding of Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre
September 30, 2019

Darebin City Council’s plans for the complete rebuild of the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre are looking to not only offer a contemporary array of aquatic, fitness and recreation features but also to include the highest standards in sustainability with the aim of attaining an optimum Green Star Design rating for the facility.

Built in 1968, the City of Darebin has been considering a range of options to update the popular but ageing inner Melbourne facility over recent years. Initial plans indicated the updated Centre could include multiple pools, an outdoor waterpark, fitness centre and a therapy pool. However, with recommended maintenance set to cost more than $3 million over the next decade an independent report found it was unfeasible to refurbish the facility.

As a result, the Council last year embarked on plans to demolish and rebuild the much-loved pool, which could cost up to $60 million. Funding is expected to come primarily from the Council, with possible contributions from the Victorian Government.

The initial $3 million design contract was awarded to architects Warren and Mahoney Architects, designers of multiple aquatic, recreation and sport facilities, including the $150 million sports park at La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus and the new Christchurch Metro Sports Facility.

With early designs to be presented to the Council and stakeholders in the next nine months, lead architect Daryl Maguire of Warren and Mahoney said staff at the firm were excited to get started on an “amazing project”.

Maguire stated “we love working on community projects, they’re facilities that people live and breathe in everyday of their lives.

“They live to remember their first swimming lessons 40 years later.”

With Warren and Mahoney aiming for a 6-star Green Star Design and As Built rating in its design for the Centre, Maguire acknowledges that there will be a number of challenges in the design, including attempts to retain the outdoor pool at the site.

Maguire is mindful that pools are notoriously energy-hungry but feels the use of insulation, landscape and orientation and solar panels would help cut power usage.

The facility will most likely have a fully integrated Photovoltaic (PV - the conversion of light into electricity using semiconducting materials) array and smaller footprint filters for the pool hydraulics system.

Speaking to sustainable building website The Fifth Estate, Warren and Mahoney Senior Architect and Head of Recreation and Sport, Brett Diprose said the redeveloped Centre would have a “much closer connection between the mechanical and electrical designers and pool hydraulics designers so that systems are symbiotic”.

In this system, heat generated from electrical or mechanics systems can feed into the pool hydraulics system to heat the pool.

The design, Diprose explained, will include “multiple levels of science” and rely on engineering expertise rather than being dictated by form.

He also advised “tor the first time, with this project we are almost reverse engineering our approach because we know what outcomes we want to achieve and performance outcomes we need.”

A Building Information Management (BIM) system will allow these scientific approaches to be put to the test. For example, by using the BIM it will be easier to strike the right balance between natural daylight coming in versus the amount of glare on the water, which can pose problems for lifeguards it obscures what’s happening underneath the surface.

As well as keeping the new Centre running smoothly, the BIM will play a key role in communicating the building’s sustainability credentials to the public by using signage and infographics.

Advising that the designers want the pool and the spaces around it to be more welcoming and inclusive, Diprose added “it’s about taking something like the Disability Discrimination Act and universal design and actually supercharging those to take them to a far more human level.”

He expects also expects to see more of this with the Green Building Council of Australia’s new pilot program, Green Star Future Focus, concluding “it’s a matter of taking the traditional green star, that is very scientific about the way it performs, and applying far more human outcomes, so the language changes to how the patron experiences the aspects of Green Star that are so important to the financial and environmental viability of a project.”

Darebin City Councillor Trent McCarthy has advised that the Council and the community had high aspirations for the project.

Images: Swimmer at the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre (top, courtesy of Darebin City Council) and Warren and Mahoney Architects' design for the Christchurch Metro Sports Facility (below).

Related Articles

27th June 2019 - New aquatic facility set to be pride of the Mornington Peninsula

8th June 2019 - Recreation Aotearoa releases aquatic facility design guide

14th March 2019 - New Gippsland Regional Aquatic Centre to make use of geothermal energy technology

17th September 2018 - City of Canning sues firms over green claims for Cannington Leisureplex

11th July 2018 - La Trobe University unveils first stage of sports precinct development

26th February 2018 - City of Darebin hosts transgender-only swim night at the Reservoir Leisure Centre

6th September 2017 - Architects highlight how social benefits can make exercise attractive

15th August 2016 - La Trobe University to develop on-campus sport precinct

13th April 2016 - Report suggests new technologies could deliver significant energy savings for aquatic centres

1st April 2016 - Aquatics and Recreation Victoria releases energy benchmarking study for aquatic centres

30th December 2015 - Design team appointed for Christchurch Metro Sports Facility

11th November 2015 - Darebin City Council healthy food options get YMCA backing

2nd September 2015 - Architects highlight contemporary aquatic and recreation facilities as social hubs

5th October 2014 - Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre saves water and energy


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

ProSlide Technology

ProSlide is the global leader in water ride design and manufacturing, supplying high-performance water attractions to new and expanding water parks around the world. For over three decades, ProSlide…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Waterparks

 
 

Exerp

Exerp is a global IT specialist in member management software for the fitness and leisure industry. By focusing on the needs of large enterprises, where streamlining, control and scalability are…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Pricemark Pty Ltd

Pricemark supplies a wide range of custom branded membership & RFID access products for the Health & Leisure Industry. 

read more

Access

 
 

Anti Wave Global

Anti Wave Global is the original suppliers of top performance swim, aquatic sports, leisure and pool programming equipment. Founded in 1971, Anti Wave Global is proud of its long and tested…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Sport

 
 

Parkequip

Parkequip is an approved supplier under the NSW LGP Contract 308 for a range of products including play equipment, shade, shelters, safe fall, park furniture and school outdoor seating. All materials…

read more

Fitness / Parks / Play / Recreation / Surfaces

 
 

Chadson Engineering Pty Ltd

Australia’s leading manufacturer of horizontal and vertical media filters suited to all types of commercial pools, water playgrounds marine parks, aquaculture and zoos. They are an ideal…

read more

Aquatics / Technology / Waterparks

 
 

Worldwide Sports Management

Principal Consultant Simon Weatherill has spent the last 20 years developing the world renowned Melbourne Sports Hub, as former Chief Executive Officer of the State Sports Centres Trust…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Sportybots

We are the leading providers of kids fun multi-sports programs for Sport and Recreation Centres. Programs cover twelve common sports as well as Gross Motor Skill Development and suit children from as…

read more

Fitness / Play / Recreation / Sport / Wellness

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business