Building a healthier planet with sustainable sporting facilities

The benefits of sustainable buildings are far reaching, from a reduced ecological footprint to keeping occupants healthier and preserving resources for future generations.

Sustainability should now be an essential consideration for all building projects, including sport and recreation facilities. These facilities need to be built to last and be able to support the large and diverse crowds drawn to them each day.

There are a plethora of ways to ensure more sustainable facilities such as the integration of more eco-friendly materials like sustainably sourced timber and recycled rubber, selecting non-toxic coatings to improve indoor air quality and considering acoustics to lower noise pollution.

Mass timber steps up to the podium

The 2024 Paris Olympics showcased how sporting facilities on a large scale can be done in a more sustainable way. Instead of constructing grand monuments as previously done by host cities, Paris chose to focus on sustainable timber structures. The new Olympic Aquatics Centre, a 5000-seat venue built mostly from wood, served as the main architectural structure for the games.

Above: The 2024 Paris Olympics showcased how sporting facilities on a large scale can be done in a more sustainable way. Paris 2024.

“This impressive building was constructed mostly from engineered wood. This resulted in awards for architecture and design as well as achieving sustainability targets for the building’s future,” head of Built Envronment Programs for Forest and Wood Products Australia at WoodSolutions Kevin Peachey says.

He says a great first step in constructing sustainable spaces and structures is to choose carbon storing timber.

“About half the dry weight of wood is carbon absorbed and stored from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. And with the advancements in engineered wood products, the potential of what we can do with timber in the built environment is growing”.

Another great aspect of building with mass timber is that it can often be assembled offsite and be delivered to the site prefabricated. It reduces the carbon footprint of the build and increases safety for the installation teams as well.

Unlike some traditional building materials that may require significant alteration to separate, mass timber can be taken apart more easily and with minimal waste. Mass timber is durable and, if properly maintained it can be reclaimed and repurposed in new projects, reducing the demand for new raw materials and minimising waste.

Mass timber from WoodSolutions was the material of choice for the new Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club in Victoria. The two-storey clubhouse was built to be an example of coastal environmental and socially sustainable development providing a hub for year-round community activity.

Mass timber was used as the structural system to maintain the initial concept of a light-weight timber building that avoids the use of steel. Steel would have raised both the cost and embodied energy of the structure.

The glue-laminated timber (GLT) members are made from thin veneers of timber, which are laminated together in the same direction to provide a super strong timber member. GLT is efficient in material use, and smaller pieces of timber can be used for large sections without affecting structural span and integrity.

For the exterior, timber cladding was chosen as a singular material response, embedding the building within the coastal context. The cladding provides warmth and tactility, and will weather gracefully, further knitting the building into the landscape. Sustainably sourced spotted gum and blackbutt were specified across cladding, decking, seating and window elements.

Spotted gum was chosen as the external structure for its durability and robust BAL resistance.

Mass timber also forms part of Australia's first 6 Star Green Star aquatic facility Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre (NARC) in Victoria. When The City of Darebin council decided to redevelop the centre, they wanted to create an eco-sustainable facility, targeting net zero emissions.

Designed by sports architecture firm Warren and Mahoney, the centre includes a 50m outdoor pool, indoor lane pool, warm water pool, leisure pool, splash pad and learn to swim pool. The fitness and wellness facilities include multi-purpose spaces for group fitness and yoga, a fitness centre, and consulting rooms for allied health professionals.

Aquatic centres are known to be one of the most energy intensive buildings, requiring immense energy to maintain pool temperature and condition. From the outset, NARC was identified as an opportunity to become a sustainability exemplar.

The all-electric design of NARC utilised zero waste targets, prioritised water efficiency and focused on incorporating natural products, including 300 cubic metres of mass timber for the structure of the main swimming halls. The glulam timber structure as well as the entire ceiling structure formed by a cassette system was supplied by Rubner Theca. It was factory assembled, featuring visible battens. The timber provides sustainability benefits, as well as low maintenance and a welcoming aesthetic.

The glulam mass timber product is resilient to chlorine corrosion and does not corrode compared with an equivalent steel structure. In addition, the tendency of large section solid timber to twist, split and shrink is minimised in products such as glulam, which is advantageous for high humidity applications.

The swim centres' electric water and air heating systems are powered by a large solar panel roof array, reducing demand on council funds through solar photovoltaics panels and energy reduction strategies. The building operationally will be net zero through 100% renewable energy procurement.

Above: Regupol’s solutions can be seen in action at the Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence.

Products made from recycled materials are also a great choice for sustainable sporting and recreational facilities.

Regupol, which specialise in high-quality floors for athletes offer a range of products made from recycled materials such as their acoustic underlay, designed for impact sound insulation which is made from up to 100% post-consumer recycled rubber, contributing to waste reduction.

Their products also have a long lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements and further contributing to waste reduction. In fact, they use up to 95% recycled materials in some products.

Regupol’s solutions can be seen in action at the Newcastle Knights Centre of Excellence. The cutting edge rugby league training facility is equipped with specialised training areas, recovery zones, and performance labs. There are three full-sized training fields, a 40-metre running track for speed and agility training and gym facilities accessible for both players and the community.

The Regupol everroll rubber flooring was chosen throughout as a sustainable solution that supports the athletes in their training.

Considering acoustics is another important factor in designing sustainable sporting and recreational facilities.

Low VOC improves indoor air quality

“Often overlooked in sporting environments, but becoming more prominent, interior acoustics are being utilised to elevate sporting and recreation facilities functionally as well as architecturally,” Rob Jones, Technical & Market Development Manager at Autex Acoustics says.

“Locally manufactured from recycled and reusable materials, our acoustic products are proudly 100% carbon neutral, enhancing the health and wellbeing of all occupants and allowing them to be repaired and maintained as required.”

As well as reducing noise pollution, all Autex products are low VOC improving indoor air quality and reducing harmful substances.

Above: Clever acoustic solutions also formed part of the Salisbury Aquatic Centre which was sustainably redeveloped by the City of Salisbury and the Government of South Australia. / Himmel Rondo

Autex Composition, a durable velour acoustic wallcovering featured throughout the innovative, vertical primary school North Melbourne Primary School, including in the gymnasium. The design had to meet government benchmarks and adhere to the principles of Environmentally Sustainable Design. Autex Composition is sustainable, featuring a high percentage of recycled PET in its make-up.

Clever acoustic solutions also formed part of the Salisbury Aquatic Centre which was sustainably redeveloped by the City of Salisbury and the Government of South Australia.

Susan Powell, Project Leader with City Collective, the practice behind the project said the design prioritised equity, accessibility, and inclusion, with sustainability as an essential criterion.

“Integrating environmental considerations into the design was a key principle,” she says. “This included energy-efficient systems, water-saving technologies, and the use of sustainablev materials.”

It was paramount to specify enduring and high-performing materials that could withstand the demanding environment of a pool hall, while meeting environmental, aesthetic, and functional requirements.

The project team engaged Rondo and Himmel, specifying Rondo’s Key-Lock Ceiling System with a 64mm Furring Channel and Himmel’s Troldtekt Acoustic Panels with a K5 Edge. The Key-Lock system is designed to produce a high-quality structure, while the Troldtekt panels are resistant to moisture and suitable for installation in spaces with up to 98% humidity (+/- 2%).

That makes them suitable for environments where both acoustics and proximity to water are essential considerations. Together, they provided a reliable combination of durability, sustainability, acoustic performance, and aesthetic appeal.

All Himmel’s products offer rapid-to-install acoustical benefits, with strong environmental credentials. Troldtekt has been certified as cradle-to-cradle gold, which considers the environmental footprint of the product on a global scale. Recently the product has switched to a Futurecem formulation, which reduces the embodied carbon footprint of the product by 30%.

Decor Systems also specialise in architectural acoustic solutions, designed to enhance the acoustics of large, open spaces typical of sporting arenas, gymnasiums, and multipurpose recreation facilities.

Their materials are environmentally friendly, with a focus on reducing waste and using sustainable resources in production. Decor Systems supplied acoustic panels at Frensham School Sports Hall in Mittagong, NSW that were integral in achieving optimal sound quality within the sports hall. The panels significantly reduced echo and reverberation, ensuring that the space was acoustically suitable for a variety of sports and events, enhancing both participant and spectator experience.

Above: Decor Systems supplied acoustic panels at Frensham School Sports Hall in Mittagong, NSW that were integral in achieving optimal sound quality within the sports hall./ https://sandrick.com

When designing community and sporting infrastructure, handrails, balustrades, and access ramps are indispensable components, particularly in areas prone to high crowd volumes and elevated platforms. One way to make these elements more sustainable is by selecting modular offerings like those available from Moddex.

This benefits the environment as the modular nature of Moddex’s systems minimises material wastage during construction and installation, as components are precisely manufactured and can be assembled with minimal on-site cutting or modification.

The durability and corrosion resistance of Moddex’s systems ensure that they have a longer lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements and, consequently, lowering the environmental impact associated with producing and transporting new materials.

When the The Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub in Wingram, New Zealand was reconstructed following the devastating Christchurch earthquake, Moddex tackled challenges associated with crowd barrier systems and guardrails on the rugby league field grandstand including overcoming the complexities of C5 crowd loading balustrading, integrated lighting, wiring and varying ramp angles to deliver modular handrail and balustrades.

Entrance control systems are another important component of larger sporting facilities. Gunnebo has many smart solutions in this domain including a new swing gate, GlasStile S, that uses 52% less energy than the previous version.

This swing gate is an optimal solution for sport and recreational facilities who are requiring an energy efficient, low security barrier that is sleek and functional. Gunnebo products are built with durable materials and their robust construction ensures a long service life.

Properly maintained Gunnebo equipment can last upward of 10 years, reducing the need to replace equipment, ultimately minimising waste.

Taking sustainability seriously

Selecting producers dedicated to eco-friendly practices is a vital component of building sustainable sporting and recreation facilities. Duracube, for example, who specialise in providing solutions for commercial wet areas from partitions to locker systems and bench seating, take their commitment to sustainability seriously.

Their Durasafe Compact Laminate is backed by third party Certification, including being certified with a Green Rate Level A by Global Green Tag. It has also been provided a Product Health Declaration by Global Green Tag. Duracube partakes in many reduced wastage initiatives based on recycling and repurposing.

For recycling, Duracube recycle and repurpose plastic packaging as crate edging to prevent damage to the partitioning systems in freight, as well as recycling the aluminium and hardware, the pallets, and other materials that fall within the partitioning system components and manufacturing process.

Duracube products feature in many sporting and recreational facilities. They were specified when Penrith City Council recently completed rebuilding the amenities building at Hickeys Lane Sports Ground. The amenities building has four change rooms equipped with ample bench seating, privacy shower and toilet cubicles and accessible toilet facilities.

A large canteen, administration office and first aid area, referees’ room and four storage rooms for sporting equipment is also incorporated in the new building. Duracube supplied and installed a 2700mm high privacy partitioning system, pedestal mount partitioning system, bench seating and lockers.

Ultimately, sustainability means considering the whole life cycle of a building and the materials you choose to build it with. With careful consideration, sporting and recreational facilities can stand as strong examples of truly sustainable building projects, supporting the shift towards a healthier planet.

Main Image: Mass timber also forms part of Australia's first 6 Star Green Star aquatic facility Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre (NARC) in Victoria. Designed by sports architecture firm Warren and Mahoney, the centre includes a 50m outdoor pool, indoor lane pool, warm water pool, leisure pool, splash pad and learn to swim pool. Supplied by Rubner Theca

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