6 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT University of Auckland & Hawkins Construction: Hiwa Recreation Centre T T Karen Phelps Transforming life on Uni campus Above ground, the rooftop offers panoramic views of Auckland city, and features multi-sport turf, an outdoor running track and social areas that employ biophilic design principles to connect users with nature. T T to page 8 The new Hiwa Recreation Centre at the University of Auckland is a world-class sports facility that is transforming the on-campus student and staff experience, becoming a “central hub” for the entire university community, says the University of Auckland’s chief property officer Simon Neale. The feedback from staff and students is overwhelmingly positive, with 85%-plus satisfaction ratings,” says Simon. “Hiwa attracted over 360,000 visitors in its first months of opening and is bustling with members and membership enquiries.” The total cost for Hiwa was $320 million, with the project delivering a building spanning 26,000sqm across eight levels. Named after Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the youngest star in the Matariki cluster symbolising aspiration and growth, Simon says the centre embodies the university’s recognition that world-class tertiary institutions are defined not only by academic facilities, but increasingly by the quality of campus life they offer. He says the centre serves as a tangible, physical expression of the university’s commitment to student wellbeing, central to a broader strategy aimed at fostering a connected and engaged campus community. The facility’s design deliberately encourages what Simon calls “stickiness” – informal socialising, group activity and unstructured time that supports stronger student engagement. “Sport and recreation are a big part of university life, with direct correlations to academic performance and mental health,” Simon explains. It’s also an important part of student and staff recruitment, retention and achievement.” The facility boasts an impressive array of world-class amenities. The Southern hemisphere’s first glass sports floor features integrated LED markings and spectator bleachers, allowing court lines to appear only for the sport being played. In the aquatic hall, an eight-lane, 33-metre pool sits alongside a dive well with springboards, spa pool and sauna. Above ground, the rooftop offers panoramic views of Auckland city, and features multi-sport turf, an outdoor running track and social areas that employ biophilic design principles to connect users with nature. Additional facilities include two expansive sports halls, bouldering wall, squash courts, multiple fitness studios and quiet zones with chill-out areas. The facility is designed to be inclusive, Simon explains, offering inviting social, leisure and outreach areas, such as a café, therapy rooms, nap pods, soft seating, and casual workspaces, which serve as welcoming entry points into the larger athletic spaces. These features encourage participation from students that might not typically identify with traditional sports culture. The facility also brings premier sporting opportunities into the CBD, with the ability to host events like international badminton, where such venues are limited, says Simon. The centre currently supports over 273 high-performance student athletes, and provides pathways for students at all levels through employment and leadership opportunities in sport. Although it was built on a constrained 3600sqm-site footprint, the design team delivered a programme three to four times larger than the available area through highly efficient vertical design. Simon says the building’s complexity required bespoke, one-of-a-kind solutions never before undertaken in New Zealand. Key design innovations include elevating the performance sports courts, and locating the pool below ground to free the ground plane for active, engaging public uses. Natare Limited • PO Box 231 Tai Tapu 7645 Christchurch P: +64 3 358 8500 • conrad@natare.nz Natare Corporation • www.natare.com Natare® is proud to have supplied the stainless steel pools on the University of Auckland Hiwa Recreation Centre. Natare® designs and manufactures the highest quality stainless steel pools, filtration, spas and pool equipment for competition, fitness, leisure and aquatic use. 20+ years experience providing Virtual 3D services modelling for the construction and infrastructure sectors At M&E CAD Design, we offer comprehensive 3D BIM (Building Information Modelling) services to streamline your projects, large or small. Our team specialises in coordinating and detailing all building services, including mechanical duct & pipework systems, plumbing and drainage, electrical systems, fire sprinklers, and even specialised services like medical gases and pneumatic systems. 3D BIM Drafting Coordination Ph: 021 026 13845 mecaddesign.co.nz
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