Pimpama Sports Hub

The City of Gold Coast’s largest civic infrastructure project, the 14-hectare Pimpama Sports Hub, showcases the versatility of aluminium.

Corrosion-resistant, lightweight, robust, durable and easy to work with, aluminium is ideal for aquatic and sporting environments and is used throughout the project. It forms a striking and innovative canopy embracing the aquatic centre and appears in architectural window and door systems, screens, barriers, fencing and many other project elements.

Located halfway between the Brisbane CBD and Surfers Paradise, the City of Gold Coast developed the $94 million Hub to address its fast-growing northern region’s community and sporting needs.

Designed as sports and recreation infrastructure within an expansive precinct of community parkland, the Hub includes a state-of-the-art aquatic centre, 20 sports courts, a community playground, an outdoor event space with a natural amphitheatre, a community centre and a fitness centre. The aquatic centre’s five heated pools include a 50-metre competition pool, a 25-metre pool, a therapy pool, a learn-to-swim pool and a children’s water play pool. A 1.2-kilometre recreational trail, extensive landscaping and a café also form part of the community precinct.

This contemporary destination is Australia’s first 100 per cent energy-self-sufficient sporting and community centre, using solar power, battery storage, and co-generation systems that use natural gas to generate both power and thermal energy to heat the pools . The solar system comprises nearly 2000 solar panels producing 910KW with excess power stored in a 316KW battery or exported to the electricity grid.

Specialist aquatic architects Liquid Blu designed the project; architect Natalie Scicluna says the idea of providing a community backyard was central to the Hub’s design, as well as complementing the natural environment.

The notion of tree canopies inspired the multi-layered roof and perforated aluminium screening encompassing the aquatic centre, with multiple layers filtering light, giving centre users the sense of being within the trees. Emphasising harmony with nature, Liquid Blu chose to colour the screens in soft grey-greens and pale pinks, reflecting the seasonal transformation of gum leaves.

“In the afternoon, the screens shade indoor areas and are another layer of protection from wind and rain. The dappled light filtering through the screens adds to the users’ experience of being underneath a tree canopy,” Scicluna adds.

When selecting window, door and screening systems, she says they needed to consider stability, visibility, durability and strength for the aquatic environment.

“Surveillance is vital around public pools; lifeguards need to be able to look through areas and spaces.

“We liked Capral’s Amplimesh Supascreen immediately for its translucency for passive surveillance, and for its durability in a very corrosive environment.”

When considering glazed doors, Scicluna says they returned to their concept of providing a community backyard and sought products that were familiar to users and didn’t feel industrial.

“But we also needed systems that would be robust in public facilities, in active environments, and would give us the feeling of seamlessly moving through indoor and outdoor environments.

“The profiling of the Capral products allowed us to realise all that.”

Scicluna says the design team was introduced to the Capral ranges early in the construction process.
“When we were introduced to the Capral products, we were impressed by the range and versatility, and have confidence specifying them in our projects.”
As well as the Amplimesh Supascreen, the project used Capral’s AGS 225 Series Door and the Narrowline 425 and 601 offset framing systems. The AGS 225 Door series is designed for flexibility and performance and suits a wide range of applications, and can be fitted with single or double-glazed units. Offering enormous design flexibility, the Narrowline framing systems are ideal for commercial and residential projects requiring a bold modern look and high structural performance.