Tensile mesh elevates safety and transparency in rooftop sports facility at vertical campus

The University of Auckland’s new Sports & Wellness Centre is a bold statement in vertical campus design, integrating world-class sporting facilities within the dense urban fabric of New Zealand’s largest city. Designed by Warren and Mahoney in collaboration with MJMA Architects, the facility embodies a contemporary, holistic approach to wellness, placing athletic and social spaces at the heart of student life. At the core of this transformative project is the innovative use of tensile mesh barriers designed and built by Ronstan Tensile Architecture and installed by SRS Group to deliver essential safety, fall protection, and open visual connectivity across multiple levels.

Structuring space with tensile mesh innovation

As the largest tensile mesh project in New Zealand to date, Ronstan Tensile Architecture used 4,300m² of Carl Stahl X-Tend® CXE Mesh across key areas of the facility. This sophisticated, lightweight enclosure system defines the rooftop sports courts, the internal running track, and critical stairways and voids, ensuring safety while maintaining transparency and airflow throughout the building. Supported by Ronstan ACS2 structural cable systems and a portal steel frame braced by Ronstan ARS2 M16 to M56 structural bars, the tensile mesh serves as a visually seamless yet structurally robust element of the project’s architectural vision.

Rooftop sports courts: Maximising space in the vertical campus

One of the defining features of the University of Auckland Sports & Wellness Centre is its vertically stacked program, an efficient response to the constraints of a compact, sloping city campus. The Level 5 and 6 rooftop areas showcase this design approach, transforming the upper levels into open-air courts, a running track, and recreational spaces that overlook Auckland’s harbour and cityscape.

To achieve both safety and openness, Ronstan’s tensile mesh forms the primary barrier system enclosing these elevated athletic zones. Its lightweight composition ensures uninterrupted sightlines while offering critical fall protection for students and athletes. The mesh extends to the ceilings of the Level 5 multi-sports courts, contributing to a sense of spatial continuity and ventilation, reinforcing the balance between security and aesthetic refinement.

Internal running track: Structurally efficient and aesthetically cohesive

Positioned on Level 3, the internal running track is a focal point within the centre’s dynamic, multi-level layout. Ronstan’s tensile mesh barriers define the track’s inner boundary, safeguarding athletes and spectators while maintaining openness between the stadium below and the movement-focused upper levels. The use of Carl Stahl X-Tend® CXE Mesh in this application underscores the project’s commitment to refined engineering, delivering a safety solution that is both high-performing and visually discrete.

Stairways & voids: Unifying safety and architectural intent

Beyond sports enclosures, Ronstan’s tensile mesh solutions extend into the circulation spaces of the building, providing essential fall protection along stairways and voids. The lightweight nature of the mesh maximises light penetration, preserving the openness and transparency that define the centre’s architectural character.

By integrating these safety measures seamlessly into the design, Ronstan’s contribution ensures that the vertical stacking of athletic spaces remains practical, functional, and visually compelling. The result is a built environment that prioritises both user safety and architectural ambition, demonstrating the versatility of tensile architecture in modern sporting facilities.

Advancing the future of athletics infrastructure

The University of Auckland Sports & Wellness Centre sets a new benchmark for integrating sports and wellness in dense urban environments. Through Ronstan Tensile Architecture’s expertise in specialist design, supply, and construction of mesh barriers and enclosures and the support of its installation partner, SRS Group, the project successfully merges cutting-edge material solutions with architectural excellence. The tensile mesh not only enhances safety but also enriches the overall experience of the space, reinforcing the ethos of accessibility, interconnectivity, and wellbeing at the heart of the University’s vision.

As cities continue to embrace vertical sports infrastructure, the innovative application of tensile mesh solutions exemplified in this project underscores its potential as a defining element in the next generation of high-performance architectural environments.

Project details

Project: University of Auckland Sports & Wellness Centre

Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Client: University of Auckland

Architect: Warren and Mahoney in collaboration with MJMA Architects

Installation: SRS Group

Products: Carl Stahl X-Tend Mesh®, Ronstan ACS2 Cables, & Ronstan ARS2 Rods

Application: Fall protection, anti-throw, and suspension

Services: Structural design and supply of Carl Stahl X-Tend® Mesh, stainless steel cables, structural rods, and end fittings.

Completion: 2024

Images: Mark Scowen Photography