sb 3/2023 (english)

Photo Stadion Beijing: © Arup, Chris Dite

DEAR IAKS MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF SB,

Public swimming pool facilities are vital community facilities. They support their communities in so many ways that go beyond their function. They provide dynamic aquatic experiences for a diverse cross section of a community encouraging healthy lifestyles and helping to build community capacity. These facilities support wellness for both individuals and the community as a whole. They are also a facility type that is constantly evolving in response to changing societal needs.

This issue of “sb” magazine highlights several unique examples of state-of-the-art public swimming pool and wellness facilities. They demonstrate an incredibly wide range of design responses to similar functional and programmatic needs.

The Ravelin Sports Centre at the University of Portsmouth in the UK succeeds in breaking down barriers to participation while pursuing a new standard of energy and environmental performance. The innovation displayed in this project supports the potential of low energy design while also meeting ambitious goals of social and urban integration.

The Alice Milliat Swimming Pool in France also has ambitious environmental and social goals. Replacing an older facility, the site was carefully selected to improve accessibility and to serve a greater diversity of community members. The architects produced an extremely energy efficient building without sacrificing the experiential qualities that are an important part of ensuring a facility’s longterm success.

Similarly, the Churchill Community Centre in Mississauga, Canada, creates a striking balance between its aggressive environmental goals and social ambitions. The project provides a diverse and dynamic response to its site that enhances its relationship with the adjacent park while providing a wide range of recreational experiences in inspiring natural light filled spaces.

From some of the newest facilities to a refurbishment of an older facility, the outdoor pool in Aarburg demonstrates a sensitive response to the challenge of bringing the latest thinking in pool design, construction, and water quality while to a historic facility. This sensitive design response will ensure that this much-loved facility will continue to serve its community for many years to come.

The lakeside sauna and restaurant in Pistohiekka, Finland, supports wellness in many other ways. Carefully sited within a beautiful lake side site, the project provides invigorating and inspirational spaces to relax while reconnecting with nature. As well, the project plays a key role in improving the economic health of the region.

The Fruske Terme, in Vrdnik, Serbia, also takes advantage of a unique natural setting. Cascading down a steeply sloped site, its twelve indoor and outdoor pools are the focal elements of this comprehensive destination wellness facility. The diversity of its uses is reflected in the efforts made to include users with diverse abilities and needs.

Finally, the Schlossbad in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany, provides a variety of wellness-oriented facilities in a tight urban environment. The project is carefully inserted into its context to provide elegant activity and relaxations spaces with strong connections to its urban surroundings.

Together, these projects provide a fascinating array of design responses and are sure to be influential for other facilities in the future.

Also contained in this issue is a series of recommendations from the IAKS Pool Expert Circle. These recommendations are intended to assist those contemplating a new pool project with advice on how to get your pool facility right and how to avoid common pitfalls. The recommendations include how to get your project off to a strong start, who should be involved, and the type of expertise needed at various stages. They highlight the importance of setting clear goals and describe the challenges of accommodating a diversity of needs while also emphasising the importance of understanding long term operating constraints.

Aquatic and wellness facilities are amongst the most important public buildings. They play a vital role and provide lasting memories for their users. I’m confident that these projects will provide inspiration for those who design, operate, or simply enjoy using these types of facilities.

Darryl Condon IAKS Vice President, Managing Partner at HCMA Architecture + Design

Darryl Condon

Photo © Jackie Dives

AQUATIC AND WELLNESS FACILITIES

Title: Churchill Community Centre

Photo: Nic Lehoux

BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH SPORT AND LEISURE FACILITIES

28TH INTERNATIONAL IAKS CONGRESS IN COLOGNE, GERMANY

This year's IAKS Congress will focus on " Building resilient communities through sport and leisure facilities". From 24 to 27 October 2023, the IAKS Congress, in ist 28th edition already, will be the most important international forum for planning, construction, financing and management of sports and leisure facilities for experts in sports facility construction from all over the world.

On the four days of the congress, the IAKS will invite international speakers from science, sport and architecture. They will discuss the challenges and opportunities that move clients, local authorities, technical and operational management, architects, designers and engineers all the way to sports federations and clubs.

In exciting lectures, panel discussions and workshops, international experts will provide innovative thinking to pressing questions. The congress programme will feature the following sessions:

• Building resilient communities through sports and leisure facilities: Global challenges and global initiatives

• The activity path to Brisbane 2032 and beyond

• Today’s design decisions and future-oriented programming

• Reducing the carbon footprint

• Socially relevant design: A commitment to the community

• The challenge of true inclusivity

• Enhancing and activating the public domain

• Synthetic sports surfaces: Benefits and challenges

The IAKS Congress will take place under the patronage of IOC President Dr Thomas Bach, IPC President Andrew Parsons and Germany’s Federal Minister of the Interior and Home Affairs Nancy Faeser.

The International Trade Fair for Public Space, Sports and Leisure Facilities (FSB) will be held in Halls 9, 10.1 and 10.2 of the Cologne Exhibition Centre at the same time as the 28th IAKS Congress. FSB as the industry’s leading international platform covers everything relating to public spaces, playground equipment, outdoor fitness, sports equipment, sports flooring and stadium infrastructure.

Not to miss: The award presentation ceremony for this year’s IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prizes will also generate exciting stimuli. The gala will take place on 24 October and celebrate the most innovative ideas of our industry and their creators.

Congress registration has opened and offers attractive super early bird tickets: www.iaks.sport/en/congress/28th-iaks-congress

Photos: IAKS, Justus Grotenhöfer, Hieronymus Caspar

IAKS SWITZERLAND

GENERAL MEETING IN ZURICH ON 4 MAY 2023

President Roger Gut welcomed 30 members to the IAKS Switzerland General Meeting 2023 on the premises of the Sports Department of the City of Zurich. After the challenging pandemic years, he was able to report on some highlights in the review of 2022.

• IAKS members had the unique opportunity to take an exclusive look at the OYM (On Your Marks) elite sports centre in Cham, which opened in 2020. In cooperation with ASSA and Swiss Sport Managers, they inspected the sports complex with the first glass sports floor in Switzerland.

• Together with the Federal Office of Sport, IAKS Switzerland organised the D-A-CH (Germany-Austria-Switzerland) meeting in Magglingen to discuss current topics in the sports facility sector.

• The seminar "Individual Sport in Public Spaces" was held in Ittigen near Bern. In addition to exciting presentations, there was a tour of the Wankdorf parkour and exercise facility.

• Membership grew from 124 to 130 members in 2022.

President Roger Gut and the other Executive Board members were unanimously re-elected for the next two years –with one exception. After many years on the board, Alice Däppen stepped down for her well-deserved retirement from IAKS Switzerland duties. She has known the IAKS since 1971 and has been involved since the founding of the Section in 1989. For the last 15 years, Däppen has been run-

ning the IAKS Switzerland office and has been working for the IAKS Switzerland for a total of 28 years. President Roger Gut thanked Däppen on behalf of the entire IAKS Switzerland for her tireless work for the good of the organisation. To applause, the General Meeting made her an honorary member in recognition of her great services.

Nicole Howald was found as her successor at the office and elected unanimously.

Following the General Meeting, Ralph König, Head of the School Sports Department of the City of Zurich, gave an interesting presentation on the development plans for the municipal sports halls. In a second presentation, Thomas Kägi from Carbotech AG reported on a follow-up study on the life cycle assessment of grass sports pitches.

After an excellent lunch, those attending were given a guided tour of the triple-section gymnasium of the Birch school complex and of the Staudenbühl school swimming facility, which also gave rise to many inspiring insights and exciting conversations.

The outlook for the year promises some interesting events: The fact-finding trip to Ticino and northern Italy in August 2024, the FSB trade fair and the IAKS Congress in Cologne at the end of October 2023 and the IAKS Switzerland autumn "Sports halls" seminar in Magglingen in November 2023.

Author: Nicole Howald Photos: IAKS

IAKS ANZ ACTIVITIES AT NSC 2023

ARCHITECT FORUM 27 JULY, ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 28 JULY

IAKS Australia and New Zealand (IAKS ANZ) is excited to announce its participation in the highly anticipated 2023 National Sports & Physical Activity Convention (NSC23), taking place in Melbourne, Australia from July 27-28th, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

As a leading organisation dedicated to promoting excellence in sports and leisure facility design, planning, and operation, IAKS ANZ is delighted to collaborate with the NSC, bringing together industry professionals and experts from Australia and New Zealand and right the globe.

NSC23 promises to be an enlightening experience for architects, engineers, planners, and operators in the sport, aquatic, and leisure industry sectors. With an array of engaging sessions, informative discussions, and networking opportunities, attendees will gain valuable insights into the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in facility design and management.

Key highlights of IAKS ANZ's involvement in NSC23 include:

• Guest Speakers: IAKS ANZ has curated a line-up of esteemed guest speakers who will share their expertise and insights on a wide range of topics relevant to the industry. Attendees can look forward to thought-provoking presentations that explore the intersection of design, technology, sustainability, and user experience.

• Networking Drinks held on the evening Thursday 27th July: An exclusive networking event proudly sponsored by Idwala and Trackmaster International, will provide a platform for professionals to connect, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships within the industry. This casual gathering will stimulate discussions, idea sharing, and potential partnerships, fostering a vibrant community of like-minded individuals.

• Architect Forum Thursday 27th July: IAKS ANZ will host an architect forum, bringing together architects from Australia and New Zealand to discuss emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in sport, aquatic, and leisure facility design.

• Annual General Meeting (AGM) Friday 28th July: IAKS ANZ will hold its Annual General Meeting during NSC23. This meeting provides an opportunity for members to gain insights into the organisation's activities, ac complishments and future plans, while actively participating in shaping its direction.

IAKS ANZ invites all industry professionals, stakeholders, and enthusiasts to join them at NSC23 in Melbourne for a truly inspiring and enriching experience. Explore the endless possibilities of sports and leisure facility design, engage in meaningful discussions, and unlock new opportunities for professional growth.

COMPLEXITY SIMPLY CONNECTED

Photo: IAKS

NEW TO THE IAKS NETWORK

KOMMUNALWIRTSCHAFT PINNEBERG (GERMANY )

Kommunalwirtschaft Pinneberg is entrusted with the operation and maintenance of the public swimming pool. There is currently a combined swimming pool for the approximately 42,000 inhabitants of the district town. Clubs and schools use the pool as well as individual athletes and families with their children. The construction of a new swimming pool is in the planning stage. This will ensure that all Pinneberg residents and the residents of the surrounding communities will have access to a diverse and affordable swimming facility in the future.

FIFTA BUCHAREST (ROMANIA)

FIFTA (Fédération Internationale de Footballtennis Associations) is an international sports organization founded in 1987 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its mission is to take the sport of football tennis to a professional level and to gather enthusiasts and athletes from around the world. Fifta has been organizing european and world championships amongst other competitions since 1992, with one of the major events taking place each year. In the history of the competitions, over 50 countries took part and competed for a title in the spirit of fair play.

www.baeder-pinneberg.de

www.fifta.net

THOMAS PELLEHN GUAYAQUIL (ECUADOR)

Thomas is a former high-performance athlete with a background in law, business administration, and environmental studies. He has more than thirty years of experience in different roles in several professional fields including sport, agriculture, and commerce related to social and sports programs for nonprofit and non-governmental organizations.

His work includes design and planning consulting for international organizations such as BID and the World Bank, as well as sales and installation of sport courts and surfaces, and commercialization and installation of agricultural equipment. He has been charged with the construction and oversight of more than a dozen sports projects in Ecuador and in other areas of South America.

CARMELO FERNÁNDEZ MILITINO PAMPLONA (SPAIN)

As Director of TYM Asociados, Carmelo Fernández Militino is an architect with extensive experience in sports and endowment architecture. He has been professor at the University of Navarra for 28 years already. His projects and works are located in Spain, Peru and Ecuador. Besides numerous swimming pools and aquatic centers, some unique projects are the Navarra Arena, the Miguel Indurain Indoor Velodrome, the Sports City of Tafalla, and the Campus Sport Player in Cuenca.

We think it could have been.

Collaborative, digital and therefore time and cost efficient project management is the focus of our overall process. Projects are set up in real time, according to the LEAN methodology in order to optimise all design and construction processes, while consistently using the latest BIM technologies. We don’t just think about tomorrow, we focus on the distant future. This means, we make our buildings sustainable, efficient with that feel-good-factor.

www.pellikaan.com

They say Rome wasn´t built in a day.

NEW TO THE IAKS NETWORK

PLANUNGSBÜRO KEMPER DORSTEN (GERMANY )

With over 30 years‘ experience in open space design and especially in the design of playgrounds and sports facilities, Planungsbüro Kemper Freiraumplanung Part mbB landscape architects operate throughout Germany. The projects vary greatly: from a football pitch at lofty heights on the roof of a DIY store in Berlin, a multi-purpose artificial turf pitch for the Manuel Neuer Kids Foundation in Bottrop, the refurbishment of the RSV stadium in Mönchengladbach or the building of a new athletic facility inclusive of a sports park in Maria Veen. Activities also include road building, civil engineering and drainage planning as well as the design and construction of parking decks.

www.planungsbuero-kemper.de

WSSHRF NOVE ZAMKY (SLOVAKIA)

The mission of the World Sport Shito-Ryu Federation (WSSHRF) is to provide Karate practitioners the opportunity to train and present their skills in international competitions in sport (Kumite) and traditional forms (Kata).

WSSHRF promotes Shito-Ryu Karate as a leisure activity, and overall, as a healthy lifestyle. The goals are to promote, expand, and improve the practice of the Shito Ryu Karate style, respectively its educational, cultural, and sports values all around the world, in order to establish long-lasting cooperation and kind relationships among its members.

www.wsshrf.org

PREWORKS STAINZ (AUSTRIA)

SmartArena (a brand of Preworks GmbH) specialises in cost-efficient and environmentally friendly LED solutions for sports facilities, stadia and arenas. The company supports customers with an experienced team of lighting designers and experts from conceptual development to realisation and site supervision.

Smart Arena was founded in 2008 with the aim of creating a technical lighting solution for sports facilities based on the latest COB LED technology and “Direct Light Control” (DLC) for optimal reduction of light immission. With the latest generation of TERA SERIES GEN3r, Smart Arena claims to create optimal lighting conditions, maximum efficiency and the greatest possible sustainability.

www.preworks.at

PETERS + WINTER BIELEFELD (GERMANY )

Peters + Winter landscape architects in Bielefeld have been designing open spaces of all kinds since 1995, from the initial creative draft to the technical details. They also oversee the project during the implementation phase and thus ensure a professionally sound execution. A significant proportion of their work has always been the design of playgrounds and sports facilities, which are executed with great enthusiasm, experience and competence. They realise all their projects in an integrated approach, with the focus on the client‘s wishes. Interdisciplinary cooperation with architects, traffic planners and specialist engineers as well as the participation of the users and the integration of their ideas are important aspects of the design philosophy.

www.peterswinter.de

PLANUM SPORT HEIDELBERG (GERMANY )

For about 15 years, Planum Sport has been the contact for sustainable synthetic turf systems, innovative synthetic surfaces, natural turf solutions and energy-saving LED floodlighting systems. Since 2013, Planum Sport has been building synthetic turf systems with cork as infill and prefabricated elastic layers - laid on an unbound base layer - and thus emits up to 90 % less plastic into the environment per synthetic turf system. Every construction process begins with individual planning.

DGFNB GROLSHEIM (GERMANY )

Deutsche Gesellschaft für naturnahe Badegewässer e.V. (DGfnB) promotes the dissemination of swimming ponds, natural pools and outdoor pools with biological water treatment and is the link for specialists from a wide range of sectors in the industry. The DGfnB organises conferences and seminars, commissions research and studies, and develops further training measures and certified courses. In addition, the DGfnB is involved in the development of new guidelines, including those on swimming pond construction and maintenance. The association supports the International Swimming Pond Congress, which takes place every two years.

www.planum-sport.de

WEIBEL lane linesfor strong performances

www.dgfnb.de

WHERE STUDENTS AND FACULTY CAN GATHER, PLAY, SOCIALIZE AND THRIVE

UBC

RECREATION CENTRE NORTH AT UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Renderings: www.shapearchitecture.ca

The UBC Recreation Centre is a state-of-the-art centre that brings an unparagoned perspective to the UBC campus community’s health and wellness through the lens of global diversity and inclusion. The program consists of three competition-sized gymnasia, four levels of fitness space, several multi-purpose rooms as well as associated administrative spaces.

At 9,383 m², the welcoming experience of the new facility is defined by the unification of a continuous roof and central lobby, marrying the fitness spaces and gymnasia with the front desk and changerooms. Rec Centre North creates a focal point on campus where students and faculty can gather, play, socialize and thrive. It provides a place for not only student athletes to achieve their fitness goals, but also for all members of the community to support their wellbeing.

The UBC Recreation Centre project is designed to meet Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification and LEED Gold Certification requirements. The building incorporates various features to make the facility universally accessible,

while also utilizing passive design strategies to improve its energy performance.

Located next to the existing UBC Life Building, the New Recreation Centre creates new accessible connections to existing disparate levels and integrates the experience into the facility itself. Previously, the north entrance to the UBC Life Building required many stairs, and a lengthy ramp which led directly to the basement level instead of the main floor. To ameliorate this, Rec Centre North will include a north to south sloped exterior walkway that extends the student services spine from the Nest and Life buildings to the new north public realm.

The space between – recreation gallery

The entire experience, including proportion, materiality, alignment, colour, transparency and shape were all carefully considered when designing the space between the existing Life Building and the New Rec Building. The pathway orients pedestrians to the adjacent facilities, but also leads them to the larger campus through the recognizable wayfinding elements of the Bosque and Athlete’s Way.

Covered space wraps the south edge, offering rain protection and shading for the heat-dominated gymnasia, while still allowing sunshine to fill this edge. Large outdoor seating in front of the glazing into the gymnasia encourage lingering from passersby. Light-coloured cladding reflects light into the shaded north edge of the Life building, further illuminating the space. All these elements come together to offer a comfortable place to pause.

Connecting recreation and the campus

Strategic placement of windows, benches and landscaping further enhance the campus connection and encourage a dialogue between interior and exterior. Having both formal and informal recreation on display draws the larger campus into the sphere of health and wellness. Transparency along the ground plane creates passive surveillance of the public realm. Site lighting assists this visual control to enhance the safety and legibility of pedestrian routes to and from the larger campus.

The project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by autumn 2024, in time to welcome new students to the UBC campus.

www.shapearchitecture.ca

STRIKING COLOURS, SOCIAL RELEVANCE REFURBISHMENT OF THE LISTED KÖNIGSTEIN IM TAUNUS SPA

For the refurbishment of the architecturally and artistically characteristic and listed spa in Königstein im Taunus, 4a Architekten has produced several alternatives for the design. These also include functional improvements and technical upgrades.

The Königstein spa has been a listed monument since 2013. The spa was designed in the 1970s by the architects Geier + Geier in collaboration with the Stuttgart artist Otto Herbert Hajek. Now, the listed building is to be refurbished and extended by the pool specialists 4a Architekten from Stuttgart while it continues to operate.

The asymmetrically designed building is situated on a slope and comprises four storeys with terraces in front. Characteristic of the spa is, firstly, its material – the fair-faced concrete building is an example of Brutalist architecture –and, secondly, the striking colour scheme typical of the artist Hajek. With its complementary colours of blue and orange, the building stands out visibly from afar from the surrounding greenery and in the urban landscape.

This characteristic design, which has also been continued in detail in the interior, is to be preserved and spruced up in the course of refurbishment. The main purpose of the refurbishment is to heighten the facility's appeal, to expand the sauna area and to bring the building's equipment up to date energy-wise and economically.

4a Architekten have prepared several alternatives for the refurbishment. Common to all is the preservation of the original design's architectural and artistic heritage with its striking blue-and-orange colour scheme.

www.4a-architekten.de

Photos: www.4a-architekten.de

Naturally beautiful.

With Agrob Buchtal ceramic tiles, pools enter into an economical and sustainable combination in terms of aesthetics and functionality. The tiles are factory Hytect-finished, easy to clean, robust and durable. A wide range of colours, formats and surfaces offers creative scope for new buildings and renovations. This makes it possible to create continuous water landscapes, with non-slip floors and steps, as well as harmonious transitions between outdoor and indoor areas.

www.agrob-buchtal.de

#pool

Schwaketenbad in Constance/Germany architect: Behnisch, Stuttgart/Germany

photo: David Matthiessen

GETTING YOUR PUBLIC POOL FACILITY RIGHT

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS

Author: IAKS Pool Expert Circle

Communities contemplating or starting on a public swimming pool project face a wide range of questions. This white paper from the IAKS Pool Expert Circle offers advice for successful decision making.

Highly complex project – and often unknown territory

Public swimming pool facilities are a cornerstone of local community infrastructure. They provide affordable opportunities to learn life skills, exercise and socialise, all of which contribute to supporting healthy communities. At the same time, they are deceptively challenging to build and operate. Often those responsible for delivering these projects, such as municipal staff and decision-makers, are facing the challenge of a new-build or renovated pool project for the first time in their careers. As pool facilities are highly specialised and complicated projects, it is important to have the right experience and expertise available from the very beginning.

How to approach a project and define responsibilities

Good design needs to be based on a clear understanding of user and operational needs, current trends and best practices in water leisure and leisure behaviour. It is also essential

to consider lessons learned from recently built pools in other communities and countries. Providing the right facilities, that are built to last, in the right place, is fundamental to long-term success and impact. Poorly planned and/or badly designed aquatic complexes create barriers to participation and can create operational cost burdens that threaten their sustainability.

Thus, it is essential for the success of a project to make informed decisions in a logical and sequential order. We recommend a methodical approach where all the needed steps are completed successfully. While the terminology and precise project delivery methodologies vary between countries, the principles remain the same.

The following figure includes an overview of the project phases, which are described in more detail below.

Source: Kannewischer Management AG, IAKS Pool Expert Circle

Step 1 – Business case

Establishing the fundamental goals and clearly defined outcomes of a project is the first step. These goals should be set in an open participation process that considers the full range of needs in a community, including those of organised sports groups, institutions such as schools and the public.

This is then elaborated through the development of a detailed business feasibility study that also considers regional planning implications. This study should develop a demand-oriented offering so that a sound financial framework is established.

In the case where an older existing facility is being considered for replacement, a cost comparison between redevelopment and a new building’s cost (including decommissioning) is recommended, together with a range of criteria including environmental impact, energy efficiency, functionality, market appeal and long-term benefits to the community.

Step 2 – Initiation stage

After having developed a clearly defined business case for the project, the approach to financing it should be developed. This often involves complex political approval processes that can take a significant amount of time.

Also, during this stage a large team of specialists will be assembled. The long-term success of swimming pools depends upon many factors over its life cycle because pools are complex to operate. This is the time to ensure that pool experts for design, project delivery and for ongoing management and operations are involved from the beginning of the design process. As well, the construction procurement appropriate for the context should be evaluated.

Step 3 – Design stage

At this stage, the client’s ambitions for the project are translated into what is going to be built. The architecture and engineering teams will develop a design that responds to a variety of key goals including:

• Functionality for both users and the operators.

• Quality of experience. Good architecture provides an in spiring and attractive facility while respecting functionality.

• Environmental and social sustainability.

• The balancing of needs and life-cycle costs. It is important to evaluate both the investment during construction as well as the ongoing operating and decommissioning costs.

• Flexibility and adaptability to changing needs in the future prevents the necessity to build a new facility after a few years. The ability to retrofit also supports long term economic and environmental sustainability.

Step 4 – Construction stage

Construction delivery methodologies vary from country to country. There is no one method that is best in all circumstances. However, regardless of the chosen procedure, it is critical that it supports the delivery of the project consistent with the established goals.

Step 5 – Operational stage

The new facility will serve the community for many years. It is important to ensure high quality service through professional, goal-driven management. As well, an appropriate budget to maintain and upgrade the facility throughout its life cycle must be ensured.

Throughout all project stages, a key part of success is establishing clear roles and responsibilities for those involved. A good starting point is as follows:

• Setting project goals: The owner, including civic leaders, staff, and the community.

• Project brief: Often supplied by a specialist consultant/ expert and the operator.

• Design: A team of specialists including an architect, a variety of engineers and others.

• Project schedule and construction cost budget: Typically, architect and project manager working together.

• Construction: Contractor or construction manager.

Why building a pool? Defining clear goals

Establishing clear goals has many benefits. They provide a critical frame of reference when making the many challenging decisions one will encounter along the way. It is important to set clear goals prior to determining all of the spaces you will provide and the functions they will support. Many projects have suffered when goals weren’t followed during the process. Clear goals will give answers to these questions:

• Why is a pool being built?

• What should it achieve?

• How will success be measured?

It is also important to become clear on the community needs that your project is not intended to address. This is relevant to avoid misunderstandings and to keep the project focused on the agreed-upon goals and objectives.

A deep understanding of your community is critical to setting appropriate goals. This requires a public participation process that balances input from both individuals and organised user groups. Individuals and non-users are often under-represented in public participation processes. As well, it is recommended to continue the public participation through all project phases and that this process is designed to be appropriate for each stage of the project.

At a minimum, goals need to be set in the following areas:

• Social goals, such as the improvement of public health indicators, increase in physical activity for all ages and social cohesion in the community.

• Environmental goals, such as requiring carbon-free operations and minimising embodied carbon. The decision to refurbish instead of building new may be a factor here.

• Economic goals, such as operational cost recovery, subsidy per visitor and life-cycle costs.

It is important to discuss and set clear targets and to also establish evaluation criteria. As well, these goals can sometimes be contradictory. For instance, considerations such as economic performance (cost recovery) vs. social and health benefits (low or free admission). Having appropriate evaluation criteria helps to resolve these situations.

After setting the goals more detailed decisions can be taken to what exactly should be built.

What should be built?

Target groups, activities, and pool types

The variety of possible pool types is becoming much more diverse than most people realise. The chosen pool type(s) should reflect the target groups and activities that are most critical to the community. In making these decisions, one will consider that different aquatic activities require different temperatures, water depths, shapes and equipment.

The following considerations affect the pool offering decision:

• Pool facilities should be created appropriate to their purpose(s).

• In smaller facilities, a pool should serve as many activities as possible while minimising conflicts between user groups.

• It is essential for success that a contemporary pool facility must accommodate all through the integra tion of universal and inclusive design strategies.

• There are many benefits to combining swimming pools

with other community functions. The creation of community activity hubs (“community centres”) is an exciting trend where synergies with other municipal functions provide added benefits to the community.

• There are many great examples of facilities to learn from. On should invest the time and money needed to go out and study the best projects both within and outside one’s own market, and preferably visit them as a participant in a swimsuit. This is a minimal effort compared to what will be spent subsequently in construction and ongoing operations and offers significant benefit for making good decisions.

The following table provides an overview of the main pool types, activities and user groups.

Source: Kannewischer Management AG, Mike Hall, Irina Korneychuk, Jens Oyas Moller

Environmental sustainability

In many communities, the swimming pool has a large share in their community’s combined facility environmental impact. Thus, it is critical to make good early decisions affecting the sustainability aspects of the project. While there are many factors, they include:

• Setting clear sustainability targets.

• Reduction in embodied carbon. Refurbishment of an existing facility can have significant benefits to reduce embodied carbon but may limit functionality and increase operational costs.

• Minimisation of operational energy use and emissions. Local and renewable energy sources should be considered.

• Building management systems and seasonal control strategies are vital in controlling energy and comfort levels.

• Energy monitoring of utilities in real time is necessary to identify wastage and high consumption that can be targeted for savings.

• Building orientation and building envelope quality are important drivers to reduce energy use.

• Eventual co-location of the pool with facilities where the pool’s heating needs can be offset against those having cooling needs, such as ice arenas and data centres.

• Project commissioning and staff training are important to achieve the ongoing efficiency potential of a facility. As well, it is often possible to improve energy performance through analysis of operational improvements without any, or minimal, investments.

• Healthy air and water are critical for both users and the environment.

Most important and common pitfalls

Unfortunately, pool projects often suffer from easily avoidable problems. A variety of typical challenges and how to avoid them:

• Errors in project approach, such as skipping necessary project stages (often the business case). The opportunity for greatest impact on project outcomes is at the beginning of the project!

• Improper goal setting: Either not having set goals, setting them too late in the process, having unclear goals or losing sight of the goals during the project.

• Unrealistic expectations for construction, fit-out and operational costs.

• Ineffective budget tracking.

• Lack of pool experts involved in the various stages of the project.

• Jumping ahead to solutions, prior to evaluating alternatives and basing decisions on opinions rather than facts.

• Thinking conventionally rather than future-oriented. It is easier to build what has already been there, rather than understanding new trends and user needs.

• Public consultation processes that are not well managed and where there is excessive influence from a limited number of special interest groups.

• Misalignment of goals and offering.

• Building a pool that is too large for the market demand results in significant long-term operating and maintenance costs.

• A lack of regional planning leads to a pool offering too similar to other pools in the region. This normally results in lower participation.

• Prioritising reductions in the initial cost of construction without a full understanding of the impact on additional operational costs.

• Not planning for multi-purpose, changing needs and the future reuse of the building.

• Loss of opportunity for synergies with other municipal functions.

• Inadequate separation of climatic zones within the facility (e.g. between entrance and swim hall), which can reduce comfort for the facility user and also increase energy consumption.

• Lack of appropriate life-cycle maintenance and upgrade budgeting. Deferred maintenance is more expensive than ongoing investment in minor renovations and can also lead to subsequent damage, decreasing revenues and unnecessary operational interruption.

Conclusion

While it is impossible to describe all the thousands of decisions that are needed to deliver an exceptional public swimming pool project, we have tried to describe some of those that will have the most significant impact for the project. Although many aspects of pool facility design, construction and operation vary considerably from country to country, the principles of successful project delivery are remarkably consistent. We hope that this guide is a useful starting point for a public pool project and that it helps to set a strong foundation for its future ongoing success.

IAKS Pool Expert Circle: Bjorn Aas, Derek Anderson, Yvette Audet, Padraig Byrne, Darryl Condon, Tom Devin, Jakob Faerch, Paul Gerrits, Warren Green, Ole Gronborg, Michael Hall, Gar Holohan, Haymo Huber, Juergen Kannewischer, Stefan Kannewischer (Chairman), Christian Kuhn, Josef Lassnig, Thomas Meier, Jens Oyas Moller, Ruth Pujol, Marc Riemann, Stefan Studer, Ernst-Ulrich Tillmanns, Taio Waldhaus, Boris Zielinski.

Location

Vrdnik, Serbia

Client

Promont Group DOO

Novi Sad, Serbia

Design team

DBA LTD Novi Sad, Serbia

Author Djordje Bajilo

Photos

Aleksandar Milutinović

Official opening

January 2020

Construction costs

EUR 40 million

LUXURY IN SERBIA’S OLDEST NATIONAL PARK

“FRUSKE TERME” SPA IN VRDNIK

The spa is located in the heart of National Park Fruska Gora, 20 km southwest of Novi Sad and 70 km northwest of Serbia’s capital Belgrade. It offers a unique natural setting surrounded by forests and healing waters and creates ideal conditions for health and recreational tourism. The Fruske Terme hotel and resort was designed by Djordje Bajilo Architects and realized within the ethno village Vrdnicka kula in two stages. The first stage included the construction of a 4-star hotel with spa and wellness facilities from 2018 to 2020. During the second stage from 2021 to 2022, an outdoor pool complex was added.

The facility is integrated into the existing environment and cascades down following the slope, developing its features on multiple levels, with spaces that open up towards the surroundings. The complex covers over 42,976 m². The spa and wellness facilities include twelve outdoor and indoor pools with beaches, twelve saunas and a massage block located on the lower levels. Rooms

(206 units), a restaurant and a café are located on the upper floors, while the congress block is located in the attic. The complex is intended for relaxation and recreation for all ages, families and groups for business events. Appropriate zoning ensures that the different areas are properly segregated, avoiding any potential overlaps or disruptions.

Panoramic pools

The total water surface area of all pools is 2,509 m². Most of the pool shells, along with all the accompanying attractions, are made of stainless steel. The pool shells are thermally insulated, and the winter pool is covered at night to minimize heat loss. The splash park is designed as a flat surface covered with rubber for safety and slip resistance, and features a water play area with sprinklers, slides and various toys for the youngest visitors.

Due to the terrain configuration and the resulting views, panoramic pools have been formed as a quiet relaxation zone. One of them extends beyond the terrain and is fully glazed along its entire length. The majority of the pool structures (nine of them) feature infinity overflow, which adds a special appeal to the space. The complex also offers eight water slides of varying heights, ranging from two to eleven metres. An exceptional fea ture is

the “winter” pool, which allows bathers to swim in warm thermal water outside, even during cold winter months.

The sauna world consists of four Finnish saunas, three infrared saunas, two steam rooms and one each of chromo, aroma, Russian bath and salt room, with relaxation rooms, water beds and tepidarium.

Construction time decisive for material choice

The load-bearing structure is made of reinforced concrete and laminated wood. Wood is quite prevalent in the interiors, either as a visible structure or in the form of acoustic ceilings and absorbers. The facade surfaces and some of the interior walls are made of aerated concrete blocks, while the partition walls are made of prefabricated gypsum board panels for speed of construction and future space flexibility.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY CLASS A

In an era when energy sources are becoming increasingly expensive, a way has been found to construct a spa in Serbia based on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency (class A). The building is fully insulated with stone wool. The source of heating and cooling for the building, pool water and all sanitary water consumption is warm geothermal water with a temperature of 35° Celsius. Water-to-water heat pumps for heating and air conditioning and for preventing glass fogging have been installed.

The demand for electricity has been reduced by 50 % with the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of the multi-storey garage. The spaces are naturally lit by large glass surfaces, and the deep rooms are further illuminated by roof domes and lanterns.

Warm welcome to guests with mobility impairments

Special emphasis has been placed on accessibility for persons with a disability and mobility impairments. Three accommodation units are provided, equipped with all the stan dards for persons with mobility impairments (such as barrier-free doors, room size, hallway width, bathroom dimensions). A special lift / mobile platform allows them to access the pool. In addition to all the public toilet groups, toilets for persons with special needs are also provided. All entrances and access controls to the spa and wellness centre are adapted for the movement of people with a disability. They are connected to all facilities by elevators, and there are no individual stairs or thresholds throughout the building.

FRAMED BY THE RHYTHM OF THE STRUCTURE

CHURCHILL MEADOWS COMMUNITY CENTRE AND MATTAMY SPORTS PARK IN MISSISSAUGA

Opened in 2021, the Churchill Meadows Community Centre features a 25-metre, six-lane pool and therapeutic pool; a triple gymnasium; a multipurpose room, including a teaching kitchen and an active living studio. It was designed for all ages and abilities, offering a variety of recreational activities and neighbourhood amenities for year-round use. The building was designed by Toronto based MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects.

The project is situated within a rapidly growing neighbourhood in Mississauga, a suburban city immediately west of Toronto. It converts a 20-hectare agricultural field into richly textured parkland, with a community recreation centre as its focus. This park connects to an existing multi-use trail system, making it a destination in the network. Together building and park comprise a vital hub for leisure, sport, and recreation – embodying the City of Mississauga’s commitment to advancing the wellbeing of its communities, individuals, and

the environment. The 6,900 m² centre appears to rest on the landscape. On approach, the crystalline exterior reveals a spacious interior topped by an open structure of massive, wood glulam beams that act as barriers to light and sound. The interior spaces are arranged into two bars running the length of the building: the east holds the changerooms, with a teaching kitchen, multi-purpose, and fitness rooms on the floor above; on the west, a wider bar houses the triple gymnasium and aquatics hall with lap and leisure pools.

Location Mississauga ON, Canada

Client / operator

City of Mississauga

Architect MJMA Architecture & Design

Principal designer

Robert Allen

MJMA Architecture & Design

Author MJMA Photos

Nic Lehoux

Tom Ridout

Official opening

September 2021

Contruction costs

USD 51 million (EUR 47.3 million)

Optimal solar orientation

The centre’s simple yet dynamic form signals its purpose as a neighbourhood landmark for social gathering and healthful activity. The building is set diagonally, with its four elevations facing each cardinal direction. It acts as an orientation device, organizing the amenities within the park – playing fields and courts are aligned with the building for optimal solar orientation.

The approach to site planning saw the building as a head end to park servicing for single point of control; incorporating park office, outdoor washrooms, water service, electrical service, overall environmental graphics and integrated shade structures all within the building. This helped to avoid duplication of services, shade structures, signage systems, and

justified the proximity of park elements to the building which ultimately provides better public space; an outcome that is often lacking in projects with separate building and park designs.

The park provides a series of leisure and fitness spaces, including multiple soccer fields and basketball courts, spread across a landscape of gently rolling hills made from soil reclaimed during building excavation – these offer elevated seating to spectators. A measured trail loop, with fitness stations and interpretive signage emphasizing the natural heritage and settlement history of the area, runs around the perimeter of the park. It loosely connects all the park programs and passes by environmental stewardship zones, a protected wetland, and stormwater management pond.

Clearest path toward achieving net-zero energy

In an aquatic centre environment, timber outperforms steel in the corrosive air and does not require extensive high-performance paint coatings for protection. When embodied carbon and other factors are considered, mass timber offers the clearest path toward achieving net-zero energy and zero-carbon building benchmarks. The innovative mass timber structure is also biophilic: from all major spaces, the view is through a forest of glulam columns into the park spaces, reinforcing visitors’ connection to nature. The centre offers a minimum of 25 % energy savings relative to other buildings of this typology, with glazing used strategically to lower the window to wall ratio, the use of high efficiency windows, built up wall assemblies, and high use of insulation and thermal spacers through most thermal bridging connections.

Indoor environmental quality was an important factor in the design of the building. Lighting was designed not only to reduce energy consumption but provide a pleasant quality of light for occupants. The aluminum screen is integral to the

LINKING OF INSIDE-TO - OUTSIDE

A feeling of openness, maintained via thoughtful visual and physical connections, informs the approach to the design, and is made evident in the central lobby. As soon as visitors enter through the space, there is a feeling of having stepped into the park, with expansive views to the outdoors framed by the rhythm of the mass timber structure. This is accomplished by strategically placing the glulam timber columns to mediate the linking of inside-to-outside along the full length of the park side of the building. Visitors inside the building, whether in the pools, gymnasium, or lobby, are always able to look out through a forest of glulam columns to the park space. The simple wood structure with almost no visible bracing members also adds an elegant verticality.

overall design and daylighting control strategy and mitigates solar heat gain, filtering sunlight similar to a tree canopy. Energy-efficient light fixtures are also equipped with occupancy sensors that shut off automatically when space is unoccupied or dim using daylight sensors when there is sufficient natural daylight.

Storm water management

The project was designed with an on-site storm water management system, including underground infiltration galleries, vegetated drainage channels, and a storm water detention pond. Rainfall is conveyed across the site, in a north and/ or westerly direction through the system and outlets into an existing drainage channel.

The existing wetland on site was used as an organizing feature of the design involving ecohydrology interpretations. Site soil excavations were redistributed on the site, instead of being trucked away, in the form of grassy hillocks around the edges of the fields.

Location

Neumarkt i.d. Opf., Germany

Client / Operator

Stadtwerke Neumarkt i.d. OPf.

Freizeit & Leben KU

Architects

Diezinger Architekten GmbH

85072 Eichstädt, Germany

www.diezingerarchitekten.de

Author

DI Architekt BDA Andreas Weiderer

Diezinger Architekten

Tiles

Agrob Buchtal

Photos

Stefan Müller-Naumann

Official opening

November 2021

Contruction costs

EUR 51.8 million

PERFECT FIT IN A CONFINED URBAN LOCATION

SCHLOSSBAD IN NEUMARKT IN DER OBERPFALZ

The Schlossbad has been built on the plots of the old outdoor pool and replaces the rural district’s former indoor pool that was used particularly by schools and clubs. The special challenge of the project was the confined built-up location of the existing outdoor pool site, to which a huge programme of rooms was to be added. The design by Dietzer Architekten integrates the existing facilities and the nearby palace pond (Schlossweiher).

Its population of 40,274 makes Neumarkt the fourth largest town in the Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz). As the first „Bavarian Fairtrade Town“, Neumarkt is perceived beyond the region as particularly attractive for tourism and leisure activities. It is also home to large sports clubs and top-level training centres.

The existing outdoor pool site was bordered to the north by a U-shaped structure alongside the residential development. The outdoor pool grounds are contained and extended by the building struc-

ture and remain an integral part of the design concept thanks to the large glass frontages. The existing buildings have been uniformly enclosed by a facade.

The various bathing levels follow the existing topography. These extend visually across the open foyer to the apron of the castle pond and invitingly connect the street space and the bathing facilities. The sauna area with its spacious terrace perches above the bathing levels and follows the shape of the building.

Functions and access

The specially developed wayfinding system is typologically consistent throughout the pool facility and provides an overview in the draft lobby in the form of a tactile building plan. The wayfinding system for the visually impaired leads from here to the central cash desk area. The three cash desks here serve the indoor pool with its sauna and outdoor pool as well as the adjoining shop area. The cash desks are supported by a vending machine, and the existing outdoor pool access can also be used during busy periods in the summer.

The ground floor accommodates the changing areas for bathers, with individual, family and barrier-free changing rooms with direct access to the fun pool and children‘s area. On the first floor are the changing areas for the sauna and the open-plan changing areas for clubs and schools.

Action in the bathing hall

With 268 m² of water surface and a water depth of 1.35 m, the fun pool has numerous attractions such as massage jets, floor bubblers, neck showers and bubble loungers. As soon as they enter the pool, bathers have a view of the current channel with a rocking bench. A special attraction

is the waterfall with a specially designed rain curtain, with lighting effects and rain showers.

Four swimming lanes with a length of 20 m are integrated into the fun pool, making it a multi-purpose pool that can be used in different ways according to operational requirements.

The year-round outdoor brine pool is part of the fun area and features such attractions as massage jets, floor bubblers and neck showers on a water surface area of 100 m². The pool‘s brine content is around 2%. Around the pool, the year-round outdoor area is designed as a sunbathing and relaxation area and leads via steps to the topography of the outdoor pool. In the summer months, it is possible to cross to the outdoor pool via a turnstile.

Children’s and teaching area as a design element

The children’s pool is a designed space that links the fun area with the competition and action area. Framed by heated benches as relaxation zones, two pool levels with different

water depths extend over an area of around 100 m² including a water surface area of 40 m². From the upper pool with a water depth of around 20 cm, a connecting slide leads to the lower pool area with water depths of up to 45 cm. The difference in levels is also used for the boat canal with its water wheel.

The teaching area is spatially and acoustically separate for operational reasons, but, with its glass elements and views, is designed with transparency in mind. The pool with a water surface area of 125 m² can be variably adjusted in depth from 0 to 1.35 m via the movable floor. The movable floor’s zero position also serves as the pool cover during night-time operation, which means that the air exchange rate can be reduced due to the reduced evaporation.

Main attractions: water climbing and inner-tube slide

The 25-m sports pool with its eight lanes can be used as a competition pool with six competition-standard lanes and incorporates such additional attractions as a diving tower with

CHOICE OF MATERIALS DICTATED BY QUALITY AND NATURAL PATINA

The selection of materials and the design have been deliberately reduced. Natural and hard-wearing materials such as fair-faced concrete, wood and the blue-green iridescent tiles on the bathing levels are the dominant materials.

The interior design concept has been carried through to the facade with its green anodized elements. The facade elements, combining to form a geometrically stylised wave, were produced using a special shaping process. The anodized surface coloured using the Permagreen process is as robust as it is lively, reinforces the design with its deep contrasts and flips from yellow to dark green in the colours of the surroundings and the castle pond.

VIEW OF THE POND FROM THE SAUNA

The sauna is designed as a scenic area of cubes and spaces in between. Although outwardly similar, each interior has been designed with its own unique theme borrowed from the locality. The castle pond sauna is a special highlight as a bio and gentle sauna. As a physical focus, it captures the natural surroundings of the castle pond in the floorto-ceiling panoramic window.

a 1-m diving board and 3-m diving platform. The plunge area with a depth of 3.80 m is cleverly exploited with a water climbing facility over 5 m high.

In addition to the special design of the fair-faced concrete wall featuring reliefed acoustic elements and acoustic elements on the rear walls of the seating niches, the ceiling has a functional design. The baffle ceiling design significantly increases the acoustically effective surface area and makes it possible to integrate the lighting fixtures into the spaces within the construction.

The indoor pool terminates at the action area with its water slide. The 80-metre inner-tube slide is accessed via a spectacular stair tower. The slide area has been designed and preequipped for a second slide as a speed slide.

Division of the catering facilities for the pool and spa

The shared kitchen in a central location makes it possible to run the catering service with minimal staffing at off-peak times. The atrium is a separating element, but skilfully provides a link between the sauna and pool areas.

The pool restaurant is designed on the free-flow principle. Various seating options with niches and fixtures create a pleasant and homely atmosphere.

INVITING THE LAKESIDE SCENERY IN

LAKESIDE SAUNA AND RESTAURANT IN PISTOHIEKKA

Pistohiekka sauna-restaurant is the first step towards rebuilding the Pistohiekka resort area which flourished until the 1980s but has since disappeared. The project brings long-awaited services back to the area in the form of a lakeside sauna and a restaurant. Pistohiekka sauna-restaurant is one of the key development sites in Studio Puisto’s design for developing tourism and timber construction in Pistohiekka.

The concept boasts a powerful design aesthetic based on a central outdoor space with the restaurant and sauna spaces spiralling around it.

Location Puumala, Finland

Client / operator Pistohiekka Sauna Oy

Architect & Principal designer Studio Puisto, Helsinki, Finland www.studiopuisto.fi

Author of project and text

Kia Vuoksenmaa

Photos Marc Goodwin

Official opening 2022

Atmospheric contrasts

The buildings are situated on a lakeside site amongst existing trees where they blend into the delicate Saimaa scenery with their dark exteriors, contrasting with the inviting and warm, light wooden interiors. In the sauna-restaurant itself, the lakeside scenery and terraced outdoor leisure areas play an important part. The guests can enjoy summer sunsets between high-quality restaurant meals and leisurely lounging in the sauna.

The starting point for the Pistohiekka sauna-restaurant was the magnificent location, situated between rocky areas in a tranquil cove. The set of buildings designed along with the overall development plan for the area was refined in

cooperation with the project owner into a unique overall approach highlighting the special aspects of the area and making the resort a place worth visiting even from farther afield. With the various features of the area carefully considered in the placement of the buildings, the result is a concept where two buildings seem to invite the surrounding scenery in, creating exteriors and interiors where you can always admire the beautiful Saimaa countryside regardless of the weather.

The restaurant courtyard creates viewpoints both in and out of the building, and the covered sauna exteriors with a unique, round opening in the roof create a thematic link between the buildings.

Pistohiekka is a renowned nature travel destination. The labyrinthine archipelago of Lake Saimaa provides a perfect backdrop for kayaking, sailing, motor boating, or rowing. Visitors also find excellent hiking routes and excursion options in the region.

Location

Bourgoin-Jallieu, France

Client / Operator

Communauté d’agglomération

Porte de l’Isère

Société d’Aménagement Rhône Alpes

Architects

Atelier PO&PO

B_Cube

General design office

Quadriplus group

Photos B_Cube

Elena Usacheva

Official opening

October 2022

1ST POSITIVE - ENERGY SWIMMING POOL IN FRANCE

ALICE MILLIAT SWIMMING POOL IN BOURGOIN JALLIEU

The Alice Milliat swimming pool serves the community and replaces a local Tournesol swimming pool. Located in the heart of the city, it is intended to improve accessibility for larger sections of the conglomeration’s population. The goal is to make the most of this new facility to give it truly intermunicipal status by expanding its public and activity capacity. The new facility designed by Atelier PO&PO architects aims to be a flagship in terms of energy transition and to obtain the BEPOS (positive-energy building) label – a first in France and apparently in Europe.

The Bourgoin aquatic facility focuses on teaching people to swim and diversified sports activities for the public and clubs. With a capacity of 450 users, it includes a single 8-lane pool equipped with a movable floor to

manage shared activities as well as a paddling pool (no specific outdoor activities). The objective was to create a quality building in terms of comfort, sanitation, construction materials and operation.

A preference for low-tech features

The indoor pool is equipped with a thermal cover for closing hours. This device limits water evaporation while the pool is unused (minus 60%), by itself generating 30% savings on the project’s heating needs. The pool is insulated on all sides adjoined by technical rooms, contributing to a 13% reduction in total heat consumption. The building is ventilated through the intake of fresh air, with flow rates reduced by 60% when unused, and by natural ventilation in mid-season.

The building’s thermal envelope is highly efficient: the evenness of the natural lighting is ensured by large north-facing saw-tooth roofs equipped with triple glazing, and special attention is paid to the treatment of all thermal bridges. In addition, the building is connected to the city’s heating network, 80% of the heat coming from renewable energy sources that include an over 600 m² photovoltaic installation that meets more than a third of its electricity needs.

How has Alice Milliat swimming pool become energy-positive?

The facility is an expression of programmatic and functional rigour. This includes a single competition pool with no outdoor pools, wellness area or water attractions. The principles of modularity and prioritized versatility yield a pool with a movable floor and eight lanes, stands with retractable barriers, a high-performance building envelope, bioclimatology, considerable natural lighting, a thermal cover, pool insulation and technical rooms, and potential for natural ventilation.

Efficient devices have been installed, such as fans for high heat-recovery efficiency and low consumption, a heated floor in the wet rooms, and reduced air flow in unoccupied areas. Renewable and recovered energy contributes to a large degree to the heating network, 700 m² of photovoltaic panels cover the roof, and heat is recovered from the pool water and grey water.

Cross section

Longitudinal section

First positive-energy swimming pool in France

“True” BEPOS certification was unattainable for this project, even if 80% of the heat used comes from renewable energy sources and even if 100% of the roof is covered with photovoltaic panels. Yet, the challenge was to demonstrate the pool’s energy performance by means of dynamic thermal simulations and a calculation of water and “physical” energy consumption.

The ideal energy performance goal is around 2,200 kWhep/m²/year. The pool’s total heat consumption is 644 MWhef/ year, i.e. 1,227 kWhef/(m²pool.year). The breakdown of heat consumption is given below:

Heating and hot water consumption

Air handling and static heating

Pool water heating

Fresh water heating

Waste water

DHW for showers

Source : Etamine

Total electricity consumption of the pool is 328 MWhef/year, i.e. 626 kWhef/(m²pool.year). In primary energy terms, this consumption goes up to 1,614 kWhep/(m²pool.year). The breakdown of electricity consumption is given below:

Breakdown of electricity consumption among users

Pool equipment

Air handling

Lighting

Auxiliary equipment

Miscellaneous

Source : Etamine

The commissioning of further equipment will permit the monitoring of numerous indicators in order to analyse and identify possible variations, such as the under-metering of energy and water and the sanitary quality of the air and water.

THREE QUESTIONS TO THE ARCHITECTS

JEAN LUC CALLIGARO BRUNO PALISSON

What do you see as the biggest challenges in the design of a swimming pool?

An aquatic centre project must choose its future site carefully. It must be exemplary in environmental terms. Water is a source of life and pleasure and a place of learning that sharpens the awareness to especially protect water as one of our planet’s resources.

The project structures its location and must fit into the site whose history continues to be written. An aquatic centre also has a building dimension that must ensure an intimacy shared by swimmers and a consideration of lanes, lights and orientation.

The biggest challenges in the design of a swimming pool are:

• The optimisation of the available space in order to offer users maximum functionality while conforming to safety and accessibility standards at the same time.

• The consideration of sustainability and energy efficiency in the design of the building and water treatment systems.

• Adaptation to the needs and expectations of users, be they professional athletes or families seeking leisure and recreation.

• Management of the budget and operating costs so as to offer a high-quality experience while keeping prices affordable for users at the same time.

How important is sport for you as an architect?

Sport is a wonderful way of fostering social cohesion, passion and a sense of community. Sports clubs are privileged places

for meetings, for surpassing oneself and for competition in a respectful manner.

It is also a constructive link for project planning. It is based on such concepts as exercise and the pleasure of experiencing the body, the tensing of muscles, concepts that we reinterpret to design the structure of a building that organises itself between the expression of forces and the passage of light, between the course of the sun and the paths of gravity.

Which theme will leave its mark on sports architecture in the near future?

Designing spaces in sports facilities is a complex task that requires consideration of both functionality and sensory experience. It is important to design spaces that meet users’ physical and emotional needs while providing them with a stimulating and inspiring environment.

Sports architecture in the near future will be marked in our view by greater integration of digital technologies and innovations in sustainability and energy efficiency. Sports buildings could be equipped with smart sensors to monitor equipment usage, air and water quality, and control heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in real time and autonomously. In addition, it will become increasingly important to use sustainable and recyclable materials in order to reduce the environmental impact of these buildings. Finally, sports facility design will increasingly focus on user experience, with an emphasis on safety, accessibility and user comfort.

Location

Portsmouth, UK

Client / operator

University of Portsmouth

Architect & principal designer FalknerBrowns Architects www.faulknerbrowns.co.uk

Consultant

(Sustainability, M&E, Lighting)

Max Fordham LLP www.maxfordham.com

Author

Françoise-Claire Prodhon

Photos

Hufton + Crow

Richard Chivers

Official opening

September 2022

Construction costs

GBP 57 million (EUR 65.6 million)

NEW BENCHMARK FOR ULTRA LOW ENERGY SPORTS FACILITIES

RAVELIN SPORTS CENTRE AT UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH

The project, designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects in close collaboration with consultants Max Fordham, provides facilities for both the University of Portsmouth and the wider city. The centre combines a swimming pool, sports hall, fitness facilities and teaching space in an open and transparent building, to visibly promote health and wellbeing on campus. The design is fossil fuel-free and has demonstrated an operational energy consumption of less than 100 kWh/m2/year – a level of performance which no other equivalent sports centre in the UK has yet demonstrated.

Making activity visible

Ravelin Sports Centre provides a 25m eight-lane swimming pool, an eight-court sports hall, a 175-station fitness suite, multifunctional studios, climbing and bouldering facilities. The centre also includes two flexible squash courts, a ski simulator, teaching facilities and office space. The building aims to make these facilities visible and welcoming.

At ground level, the building is open and animated by uninterrupted glazing, providing views into the active spaces. These views provide a vibrant addition to the campus and streetscape, making the activities inside highly visible to engage students and passers-by. From within, the glazing blends the boundary between inside and outside, to create uplifting and naturally lit settings for exercise.

Breaking down barriers to participation

At the entrance, there are no barriers or turnstiles – instead, people are encouraged to wander through the building and discover different activities. Glazed internal walls mean café visitors can watch swimming training and see the gym facilities available, while the main staircase leads people past an open climbing and bouldering wall.

The three key sports spaces each have a distinct architectural character while sharing a material palette. The sports hall is a tall, top-lit, timber-lined box and the fitness suite is defined by giant cooling fans within a timber-lined ceiling. The swimming pool is naturally lit from both the sides and above, with timber soffits marking the perimeter of the water.

Each key sports space is accompanied by „fringe“ spaces – areas overlooking the facilities, where people can dwell, socialise or study to help break down barriers to participation. The centre also includes changing areas that are accessible to all, with choices for different levels of privacy rather than separating all the facilities by gender.

Ambitious targets for energy use

As the first project to be completed in the university’s masterplan, Ravelin Sports Centre has set the standard for future campus projects, in terms of both architectural quality and their ambition to become carbon neutral. FaulknerBrowns Architects and Max Fordham collaborated closely from the very start of the project to meet ambitious targets for energy use.

WELCOMING GATEWAY

Ravelin Sports Centre is open to local people as well as students, to create a welcoming gateway into the campus from the old town of Portsmouth. Located at the edge of Ravelin Park, the fitness suite, studios and sports hall are all positioned along the more urban side of the site, while the swimming pool overlooks the park, giving the feeling of swimming amongst the trees.

To achieve a transparent ground plane, the more constrained volume of the sports hall is elevated on the first floor. This level is wrapped in a band of terracotta cladding „baguettes“, in a randomly varying pattern of natural tones picking out the colours of surrounding buildings.

The sports hall volume extends above this, expressed in a skin of light and reflective metal panels which blend subtly with the sky.

The building’s low carbon features include:

• A compact building form and efficient external envelope, to minimise heat loss.

• Extensive natural lighting, including to the sports hall and swimming pool, providing sunlight which contributes to heating the pool for most of the year.

• Natural and mixed-mode ventilation for free cooling in the summer, alongside integrated ceiling fans in the fitness suite to generate air movement, reducing cooling demands.

• Heating from air source heat pumps and heat recovery, from cooling and ventilation systems and waste pool water.

• A bio-solar roof with a 1,000 m² photovoltaic array, generating 224 MWhs of renewable energy per year and reducing demand from the grid by over 20 %.

• Automatic system controls for heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting to provide optimum, efficient conditions for all activities, occupancy levels and weather conditions.

• Recycling of pool water for changing facilities.

Intensive post occupancy monitoring and user feedback has been used to fine tune systems and controls for optimum comfort and energy efficiency. In the first six months since opening, this data has shown the building’s operational energy consumption is less than 100 kWh/m2/year, around one tenth of the energy demand of an equivalent typical sports centre, without compromising sport environments or user experience. This ultra-low level of carbon emissions from an all-electric building is compatible with a net-zero carbon future.

Location

Aarburg, Switzerland

Client

Gemeinde Aarburg

Architects (ARGE)

EpprechtArchitekten SIA HTL AG www.epprechtarchitekten.ch

Jenzer+Partner AG

www.jenzer-partner.ch

Authors

Vanessa Vogler

Jonas Kallenbach

Markus Gutknecht

Photos

Balthasar Epprecht Official

REFURBISHMENT OF AN ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENT

THE “BADI” OUTDOOR POOL IN AARBURG

Built in 1931, the Aarburg outdoor swimming pool is considered the oldest example of this type of building in the canton of Aargau. Largely preserved in its original state, it is an important architectural monument that bears witness to the growing enthusiasm for sport and nature in the early 20th century. The pool facility has been a cantonal listed building since February 2022. The refurbishment carried out in 2021/22 has succeeded in both largely respecting the historic building and modernising the infrastructure and equipment. New findings about the original colour scheme have made it possible to restore the unique character of the architectural monument.

The basic principle for the building work on the technical modernisation was to preserve or, where possible, restore the original appearance of the outdoor pool. The main interventions included the restoration of the original building fabric in accordance with monument preservation guidelines, the evidence-based reconstruction of the elements no longer preserved, replacement of the pool basin no longer amenable to preservation, construction of a new plant building, reorganisation of the sanitary facilities within the existing building fabric, relocation of the paddling pool and the restaurant to the south-east of the site, and improvements in the design of the surroundings.

The new concrete basin, which is slightly lower in relation to its surrounds and has an internal overflow channel, creates a spatial impression physically and visually similar to the original appearance. As a result of the demolition of the old plant building from the 1950s, the view of the river Aare has been restored. Combining the protected building fabric with contemporary equipment, the new plant building at the Badstrasse entrance forms a visual screen between the sunbathing lawn and the car park. The surroundings at the southern end of the pool have been upgraded by omitting diving boards and by introducing wooden seating steps that invite users to linger.

Colour scheme of the construction period

One of the most striking changes is the restoration of the original colour scheme of the Aarburg pool facility. In the course of refurbishment, it was possible to identify the original colours of the various parts of the building thanks to paint analysis by a restorer. A palette of bright, bold colours emerged, which is absolutely typical of the construction period and can be found in buildings erected at the same time, including modernist outdoor pools.

In Aarburg, the colour scheme features subtle gradations. While on the outside it appears more subdued and restrained in relation to the surrounding buildings, on the inside the bright colours of the cubicle doors, now again in wood, light up all the more.

Strict guidelines for monument preservation

The goal of listing the historic box-like pool building as a national monument could only be achieved by constructing the pool in fair-faced concrete. Pools made entirely of fair-faced concrete are a rarity nowadays; this requirement presented the design team with some challenges. Likewise, the pool was to have a low-lying overflow channel, which required meticulous design of the end of the pool without compromising the pool’s water-tightness.

After developing various alternatives that led to nothing, a channel design was finally devised that would give the pool the required water-tightness while preserving the desired historical appearance. The solution consists of a combination of a channel head concreted on site and connected to the pool surrounds and a cemented-in overflow block.

State-of-the-art pool water treatment

All the plant for pool water treatment, including the supply and return pipes, was replaced and brought into line with current standards. A new water treatment system with a pressurised precoat filter was adopted. To ensure optimal pool hydraulics, a vertical floor inlet was chosen, which is almost concealed by the swimming lane markings on the floor of the pool. The entire system has been housed in a new and floodproof plant building.

Children’s paddling pool as a new attraction

To upgrade the facility, a new children’s paddling pool with a sun shade system and soft EPDM pool surround has been added. The new paddling pool has been moved from the historic part of the facility to the edge of the site. Together with a small playground and the nearby catering area, this part of the complex forms an oasis for young and old.

Unique bathing pleasure in a historic setting

With the latest refurbishment, today’s requirements of an outdoor swimming pool in terms of equipment, hygiene, comfort and accessibility have been successfully reconciled with treatment of the building in a manner in keeping with its listed status. The historic building fabric has been retained as far as possible and preserved for future generations. By removing various alterations from the 1950s as well as the rediscovered colour scheme, the essential architectural qualities have been restored to Aarburg’s river and sunbathing pool facility. With its combination of neoclassical formal language and modern colouration, the Aarburg pool is a unique architectural and cultural testament to a period of architectural and social transition.

SWIMMING AND SWARMING AT THE BADEPARK BERENBOSTEL

NEW OUTDOOR POOL WITH ATTRACTIVE WOODEN ELEMENTS FROM KEBONY

Architecture: www.lohauscarlkoehlmos.de

Author: Kebony Norge AS, www.kebony.de

Photos: René Sievert

Kebony, the leading supplier of high-quality modified hardwood, proudly presents the project "Outdoor pool at Badepark Berenbostel". After seven years of construction, an outdoor pool opened again in Garbsen in 2022. A total of 1.7 million euros have been invested in the outdoor facilities. The wood impregnated with bio-alcohol was used for the creative design of surfaces and resting areas of the outdoor pool.

Kebony offers a variety of advantages that make it the ideal choice for use in outdoor pool construction. The wood is dimensionally stable, absorbs less moisture than untreated wood and therefore retains its shape and dimensions over a longer period of time. It is more resistant to weathering and pest infestation, making it ideal for outdoor use. In addition, Kebony is virtually splinter-free, easy to work with and offers a natural, warm colour as well as a beautiful wood grain that appeals to many customers.

The outdoor pool in Garbsen impresses not only with its sustainable wooden architecture, but also with its attractive outdoor facilities. Around 200 square metres of Kebony Clear were used to create wooden terraces and sunbathing areas that offer a natural look, high durability and low maintenance. A large part of the old trees were preserved - in addition, 29 new trees were planted around the pool to enrich the 11,000 square metres of green space. In between, there are daybeds and large sunbathing areas made of Kebony wood.

GERMANY - INFO BUILDING AUTHORITY APPROVAL

With its general building approval for Kebony Clear, Kebony offers planners and builders of outdoor pools an important addition to timber construction. The modified wood can be used for load-bearing structures in outdoor applications up to service class 3.2, which makes individual tests unnecessary and enables creative, innovative and cost-effective planning and implementation.

In future, the planting areas within the outdoor grounds will be kept moist with modern irrigation systems, so that no additional staff will be needed for this. The pool is a 745 square metre stainless steel tub and was filled with 1.3 million litres of water. The stainless steel walls reflect the sun and help with heating. If necessary, the water is additionally heated with energy from solar collectors.

"We are thrilled that Kebony Clear was used so successfully in the outdoor pool at the Badepark," says Lars Arndt, Country Manager of Kebony. "Our wood not only offers outstanding properties such as durability and resistance, but is also an environmentally friendly alternative to tropical wood. We are proud to be part of this exceptional project and hope it serves as an inspiring example for the use of wood in outdoor pool construction." Operations Manager Robert Hey is also pleased: "We are the most modern and beautiful pool in the area - technically a quantum leap."

GREEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINABLE POOLS

HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING GREEN AND EFFICIENT AQUATIC FACILITIES

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) draw attention to the impact that the construction industry has on air, water and global waste. In answer to the UNs challenge to find a more sustainable path, the industry has responded with the development of innovative materials, more efficient construction techniques, and renewable energy options.

An important consideration on any facility project that may include a swimming pool, is that through the application of smart, green processes and technology, a pool can have a positive effect on a building’s energy certification ratings and running costs, as emerged from the 2nd International IAKS Swimming Pool Conference in September 2022 after visiting Holmen Aquatics Centre with its solar roof garden and its Myrtha stainless steel pools. Not only can the right pool technology reduce GHGs and water consumption, but through the use of durable materials, it will also deliver a long life-cycle avoiding costly (and environmentally unfriendly) repairs or replacement.

Sustainable swimming pool?

Many architects and planners perceive water spaces as problematic from the point of view of energy certifications.

A large proportion of swimming pools in the market employ techniques that contribute to significant levels of pollution, in terms of both emissions and waste. But there is an option that can have a positive impact on your project’s energy rating – Myrtha Pools’ modular stainless-steel system brings sustainability to a project in many ways. According to a comparative analysis carried out by the technical firm Acor Consultants of Sydney, Myrtha technology reduces the CO₂ emissions compared respectively to concrete pools (by up to 50%) and to welded steel pools (by up to 30%). Myrtha helps to build green solutions, as shown by the comment of

architect Anna Noguera: “Thanks to Myrtha Pools, we have reduced construction waste and CO₂ emissions in line with the philosophy of the Turó de la Peira project”, a sport centre opened in Barcelona in 2019 as well as awarded at the World Architecture Festival in 2019 and with the Sustainable Construction Grand Prize during the COP26 in Glasgow.

Green certification

A number of certification systems have emerged for the management, design and construction of sustainable buildings. These sustainability rating systems are real indicators of quality in construction. It is increasingly common that inves tors include a checklist of certification credits as compulsory factors for all players involved in a particular project. The investor benefits include the fact that a sustainable project can both reduce operating costs and increase the value of the building. Myrtha Pools leads the way in sustainability in the swimming pool design and construction industry. Energy efficiency, water and raw material savings, long life cycle, indoor air quality, and low emissions are just some of the areas where Myrtha pools make a difference according to LEED, BREEAM and Green Star certifications. An outstanding example is the new Bocconi REC Centre (LEED Platinum certified), design ed by SANAA architects according to biocompatibility and eco-sustainability criteria to cut CO₂ emissions and reduce the energy and water consumption, also thanks to Myrtha’s modular stainless steel panels.

Author and photo:  Myrtha Pools, IT - 46043 Castiglione d/Stiviere (MN), www.myrthapools.com

SUSTAINABLE, SAFE, BENEFICIAL WIBRE POOL LIGHTING

Author and photos:   www.wibre.de/en

Can pool lighting be sustainable?

Quite clearly, yes it can. But above all it should be. When it comes to light under water, the products used must be sustainable. Spotlights in the pool should not have to be replaced after two or three years because the materials no longer stand up to the high underwater demands or the lights only glimmer. If this is the case, the continuous replacement would be a far cry from sustainability.

What looks sustainable pool lighting like in practice?

As a manufacturer, it starts with the development. The key is 100 percent permanent impermeability. But the material used to protect the interior is just as important. The housing must be able to withstand the highest adversities in the long term. In our case, we use extremely high-quality stainless steel stabilised with titanium, which is used in shipbuilding, for example. In combination with LED light sources specially developed for swimming pools, such a luminaire can be used under water for a very long time. From the bath’s point of view, sustainable pool lighting starts with research. Think carefully about how the pool is to be lit. In principle, a high-quality product should be chosen to ensure long-term enjoyment of the illuminated pool.

What role does the safety factor play?

In large sports pools, lighting is an essential component of safety, as it is in public swimming halls or adventure pools. Illuminated water makes it possible to recognise dangers and possible accidents more quickly. But an illuminated pool also makes a significant contribution to safety in hotel

wellness facilities and in the private sector, especially in the dark season.

What advice do you give to pool operators?

Use safe components. Our luminaires comply with all standards (e.g. swimming pool IEC 60598-2-18), undergo numerous tests and have a high impact resistance.

We would also recommend using spotlights with a very low cover height. Our current spotlights have a cover thickness of only 2 millimetres and do not have any corners or steps. This reduces the risk of collision to a minimum.

Light has an influence on health.

What does this look like in concrete terms?

Especially in wellness areas, we consider lighting to be the most important influence on physical and mental recovery. You only enter a dark pool with discomfort. Light stimulates our feelings immensely and has been proven to be a crucial factor in charging the mind and body. An area illuminated with cold white light tends to give us a cold feeling and activates our brain cells, whereas warm white light causes brain activity to slow down and significantly accelerates the recovery process.

The topic of pool lighting has many facets. Benjamin Pfendt, Head of Marketing at WIBRE, explains important aspects.

SUSTAINABLE POOL RENOVATION

AS A PREFABRICATED CERAMIC - CARBON CONCRETE CORE

Author: www.agrob-buchtal.de

Photos:  www.agrob-buchtal.de, Marcus Rebmann

Construction Minister Klara Geywitz has launched a funding programme for the renovation of municipal facilities in the areas of sports, youth and culture, which focuses on the preservation of our outdoor pools with the largest share of the funding in the area of swimming pools. Simple and time-saving renovation options would now be beneficial. The ceramics manufacturer and swimming pool expert AGROB BUCHTAL brings the solution: A prefabricated ceramic pool head with a carbon concrete core is to ensure sustainable and timesaving construction processes for the renovation of ageing swimming pools. How does it work? Quite simple.

Master of all swimming pools

Regardless of the manufacturer or type: In order to be able to install the prefabricated pool head parts, which are usually 2.5 m long, the old pool heads are first sawn out of the pool edge. This produces precise horizontal and vertical cut edges onto which the new and prefabricated pool head is simply placed after sealing has been completed. Existing gutter drains were measured in advance for the specific project and taken into account during production. Any differences in the colour of tiles and joints are hardly noticeable below the water level. Conclusion for the connection work: Pool head and pool remain one unit.

Prefabrication: Because the future cannot wait

Under controlled and quality-monitored workshop conditions, prefabrication of the pool heads enables energyand resource-efficient production processes and minimised waste quantities. But the construction processes on site are also much simpler with the prefabricated parts, because

complicated work steps and the involvement of many different trades are eliminated. In addition, the overall construction time is reduced, as forming, pouring and drying of the in-situ concrete are no longer necessary. As a result, the prefabricated ceramic pool head achieves a product quality that cannot be achieved on construction sites. And so that the climate balance is also right down to the last detail, AGROB BUCHTAL relies on short delivery routes and the production of reusable formwork. Simply convincing.

Sustainable carbon concrete

In cooperation with CARBOCON from Dresden, AGROB BUCHTAL developed the prefabricated ceramic pool head with a core made of carbon-reinforced concrete. Its space requirement is minimal, because carbon concrete allows the production of extremely filigree and yet highly load-bearing components. Less cement, sand and water provide a significantly improved climate balance. In contrast to conventional steel reinforcements, carbon fibres are resistant to aggressive media and therefore extremely robust and durable.

How it works

CONVERSION AND REFURBISHMENT

With the conversion and modernisation of the COE Bad in Coesfeld, Kernig Consulting GmbH, a company specialising in sports facilities, has brought the sauna and wellness area up to a new standard. By restructuring the bath, the visitor experience has been redefined.

In the course of the project, the Kernig Consulting team supervised all service phases of the HOAI from the basic evaluation, preliminary planning, draft planning, approval planning, implementation planning as well as the preparation and execution of the contract assignment.

Especially in the service phases of the basic evaluation and the preliminary planning, the user requirements as well as the operational processes were analysed in great detail within the scope of extensive consulting services with the results being incorporated into the final planning. The preliminary planning results were then further optimised, taking into account current trends in customer behaviour and projected customer expectations. The resulting construction costs and construction times also had to be taken into account in order to be able to carry out a sustainable and economically successful reorientation of this part of the COE Bad.

Furthermore, Kernig Consulting took over the supervision and management of the project. As part of the conversion measures, the relaxation areas were separated from the rather noisy shower areas. The whirlpool and the plunge pool were moved outside. The saunas and the steam bath were combined into a single area. In addition, a new shower house was built in the outdoor area to remedy a lack of shower capacity there. Both the exterior and the interior of the wellness area were redesigned with a comprehensive design concept. Kernig Consulting GmbH

www.kernig-consulting.de

BUILT ON FAMILY VALUES

As a family business, we understand better than anyone that you want to build with familiar faces. We have both feet on the ground. Yet at the same time, we have towering ambition. Feel free to call and plan a visit to one of our construction sites.

Value engineering

As operator of Club Pellikaan – a Dutch health club chain – we make smart choices. Our decision-making is based on the experience of 1.5 million users per year. That makes us the ideal partner to get the most out of your project.

Wide-ranging and complete

You want to work with a single party that guides the project as efficiently as possible. That is why you can choose any possible combination of services from our specialisms. Whether it’s building only, design & build in a construction team, or a complete DBFMO project with long-term maintenance and operation.

Green built

Making sustainable choices at the start of the construction process can save you operating costs in the future. We strive to leave the world cleaner. Fair to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Limitless opportunities

Building starts with a dream. By finding the right balance between ambition and reality, we translate ‘a good idea’ into world-class innovation.

Innovation has no fear of heights

A building must be future-proof, able to cater to the end users’ needs for years to come. With decades of international expertise in smart building, Pellikaan’s projects remain relevant for many years.

Photo: Kernig Consulting

Pellikaan Bauunternehmen Deutschland GmbH www.pellikaan.com/en

Foto: Pellikaan

BERLIN IS MOVING REALLY WELL!

The programme to promote physical activity, “Berlin bewegt sich!”, launched in 2021, is aimed at all Berlin inhabitants. It is free of charge, is personally supervised, participation is possible without registration and it is easily accessible in terms of low-threshold exercise offers and inclusion. “Berlin bewegt sich!” is intended to give all people, including those who have little or no connection to physical activity, easy access to measures that promote physical activity.

In 2022, the state-wide programme entered the next round. Further training stations were opened in the districts of Hasenheide (Neukölln), Warnitzer Bogen (Lichtenberg) and Waldeckpark (Kreuzberg). KUULA Landschaftsarchitekten from Berlin, who were commissioned with the conception and planning of the new sports areas, enlisted PLAYPARC as a competent partner for the planning and realisation.

In the Volkspark Hasenheide, an approx. 1.6 km long “circuit” was defined in the park, with a variety of exercise options docked onto it. There are exercise opportunities for strength, endurance, motor skills, coordination and, of course, running training.

The Warnitzer Bogen was designed as a neighbourhood park and public green space with differentiated recreational qualities. Here, simple elements such as a bench, horizontal bar, hand-over-hand ladder, rings, complement the range of strength and endurance exercises, for example in the trend sport of calisthenics. In Waldeck Park, balancing ropes, a rope circus and simple robinia tree trunks have been distributed to selected locations along the surrounding path. An inclusive footbridge with alternating surfaces and slopes offers exercise opportunities especially for people with disabilities. PLAYPARC

THE CABLE NET WITH MANY OPTIONS

Carl Stahl ARC is a specialist for safety nets in Architecture and Construction. In November 2022, the newly defined European Technical Assessment (ETA) for a stainless steel wire rope net was granted for the first time.

On the basis of a completely new European Assessment Document developed with EOTA and DIBT, ETA-22/0257 was granted for the X-TEND cable net as fall protection and safety mesh after extensive clarifications and test series. This lays the foundation across Europe for defined practical application possibilities, as well as the static calculability and regularly recurring external monitoring of the production processes and product quality. X-TEND thus is a convincing, tested quality product for the often sensitive areas of application as a permanently installed safety net, at and in sports facilities, schools and daycare centres – as well as in residential and office buildings, and as a facade greenery net or horizontal fall protection mesh.

The X-TEND mesh is a safety and design element at the same time. It is made of AISI316 stainless steel, is durable, robust and flexible, and used in two- and three-dimensional applications. X-TEND is available in various mesh widths and wire rope diameters. Its very low self-weight in relation to its load-bearing capacity enables filigree installations with large spans. Spectators and athletes enjoy an optimal view. Balls are silently kept by the net without permanent deformation or damage.

X-TEND is manufactured in own factories in Europe, as well as in the USA in accordance with the “Buy American” guidelines applicable there for certain projects.

Carl Stahl ARC GmbH www.carlstahl-architecture.com

Photo: Carl Stahl

Photo: Playparc

COMPANY INDEX FROM A TO Z

IAKS member companies go one step ahead with „Professionals & Profiles“. And position themselves prominently – in print and online. Report on your innovations and references in sb magazine and the IAKS newsletter and on our website. It goes without saying that your architect or supplier logo appears in every issue – and is sure to catch the eye of your business partners.

ACO Inotec GmbH 24782 Büdelsdorf, Germany christin.pohl@aco.com www.aco-sport.de

» Drainage systems

» Sports ground construction

» Sports ground equipment

AGROB BUCHTAL

Deutsche Steinzeug Keramik GmbH 92521 Schwarzenfeld, Germany agrob-buchtal@deutsche-steinzeug.de www.agrob-buchtal.de

» Aquatic construction

» Pool construction; ceramics

Sekisui Alveo AG 6043 Adligenswil, Switzerland info@alveosport.com www.alveosport.com

» Artifical turf

» Elastic layers; protecting surfaces

» Indoor sports floorings

» Outdoor sports floorings

ANRIN GmbH 59609 Anröchte, Germany info@anrin.com www.anrin.com

» Drainage systems

» Sports ground construction

» Sports ground equipment

Join

ASB GlassFloor Systembau Horst Babinsky GmbH 83371 Stein, Germany info@asbglassfloor.com www.asbglassfloor.com

» Indoor sports floorings

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Multi-sport courts

ASPG Deutschland GmbH 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany info@D-aspg.de www.D-aspg.de

» Elastic layers; protecting surfaces

» Indoor sports floorings

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Sports ground construction

Arbeitskreis Trennvorhänge e.V. 42327 Wuppertal, Germany info@arbeitskreis-trennvorhaenge.de www.arbeitskreis-trennvorhaenge.de

» Indoor equipment

» Sports hall dividers

» Sports ground construction AST Eissport und Solaranlagenbau GmbH 87629 Füssen, Germany hannes.schretter@ast.at www.ast.at

» Aquatic equipment

» Ice hockey boards

» Ice resurfacers

» Ice rink construction

Avant Sports Industrial Co.,Ltd 518108 Shenzhen, China sales@avant.com.cn www.avantseating.com

» Artificial turf

» Multi-sport courts

» Stands, seating

Bänfer GmbH Sportmanufaktur 34537 Bad Wildungen, Germany info@baenfer.de www.baenfer.de

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Indoor equipment

» Mobile floorings; cover systems

» Temporary and modular constructions

BERNDORF Metall- und Bäderbau GmbH 2560 Berndorf, Austria office@berndorf-baederbau.com www.berndorf-baederbau.com

» Aquatic construction

» Aquatic equipment

» Pool construction, stainless steel

BLOACS 50935 Cologne, Germany info@bloacs.de www.bloacs.de

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor equipment

» Sports ground equipment

» Playground equipment

campus GmbH Bauten für Bildung und Sport 72764 Reutlingen, Germany info@campus-architektur.de www.campus-architektur.de

» Architecture and design

Carl Stahl ARC GmbH 73079 Süßen, Germany xtend@carlstahl-arc.com www.carlstahl-architektur.com

» Facades and building envelopes

» Perimeter boards, nettings

» Playground equipment

» Security systems, fencing

» Sports ground equipment

Gotthilf Benz Turngerätefabrik GmbH+Co KG 71364 Winnenden, Germany info@benz-sport.de www.benz-sport.de

» Aquatic equipment

» Fitness equipment

» Indoor equipment

» Outdoor equipment

» Sports ground equipment

Brinkmann + Deppen Architekten / Landschaftsarchitekten 48336 Sassenberg, Germany info@brinkmann-deppen.de www.brinkmann-deppen.de

» Architecture and design

» Landscape design

Conica AG 8207 Schaffhausen, Switzerland info@conica.com www.conica.com

» Indoor sports floorings

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Sports ground construction

DSGN CONCEPTS UG 48145 Münster, Germany info@dsgn-concepts.de www.dsgn-concepts.de

» Landscape design

eccos pro gmbh 42553 Velbert, Germany info@eccos-pro.com www.eccos-pro.com

» Aquatic equipment

» Changing rooms and equipment

» Fitness equipment

» Ice sports equipment

» Ticketing, access systems

ENGO GmbH Srl 39040 Vahrn (BZ), Italy info@engo.it www.engo.it

» Ice hockey boards

» Ice rink construction

» Ice resurfacers

» Ice sports equipment

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

Eurotramp-Trampoline Kurt Hack GmbH 73235 Weilheim / Teck, Germany eurotramp@eurotramp.com www.eurotramp.com

» Aquatic equipment

» Indoor equipment

» Playground equipment

» Sports ground equipment

GANTNER Electronic GmbH Deutschland 44894 Bochum, Germany info-de@gantner.com www.gantner.com

» Aquatic equipment

» Changing rooms and equipment

» Fitness equipment

» Indoor equipment

» Ticketing, access systems

geo3 GmbH 47551 Bedburg-Hau, Germany kontakt@geo3.de www.geo3.de

» Architecture and design

» Landscape design

» Feasibility studies

Gerflor Mipolam GmbH 53824 Troisdorf, Germany gerflormipolam@gerflor.com www.gerflor.de

» Indoor sports floorings

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

GEZOLAN AG 6252 Dagmersellen, Switzerland customer-service@gezolan.com www.gezolan.com

» Artificial turf

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Sports ground construction

GfKK – Gesellschaft für Kältetechnik- Klimatechnik mbH 50859 Köln, Germany info@gfkk.de www.gfkk.de

» Ice rink construction

» Ice sports equipment

» Sanitary, heating, air conditioning, energy recovery

Gütegemeinschaft Sportgeräte 53113 Bonn, Germany info@sichere-sporthalle.de www.sichere-sporthalle.de

» Indoor equipment

» Sports ground equipment

» Testing, quality assurance

Hamberger Flooring GmbH & Co. KG 83071 Stephanskirchen, Germany info@hamberger.de www.hamberger.de

» Ceilings, windows, walls

» Indoor sports floorings

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Outdoor sports floorings

Hauraton GmbH & Co. KG 76437 Rastatt, Germany info@hauraton.com www.hauraton.com

» Drainage systems

» Sports ground construction

heiler GmbH & Co. KG 33649 Bielefeld, Germany info@heiler-sport.de www.heiler-sport.de

» Artificial turf

» Cleaning and maintenance

» Hybrid turf

» Natural turf

» Sports ground construction

Herculan BV 4231 DJ Meerkerk, Netherlands info@herculan.com www.herculan.com

» Indoor sports floorings

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor sports floorings

HET Elastomertechnik 65203 Wiesbaden, Germany info@het-group.com www.het-group.com

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Fitness equipment

» Playground equipment

» Outdoor sports floorings

Intercom Dr. Leitner 39040 Freienfeld, Italien intercom@leitner.it www.realice.info

» Ice hockey boards

» Ice rink construction

» Ice resurfacers

INTERGREEN AG 60433 Frankfurt, Germany info@intergreen.de www.intergreen.de

» Artificial turf

» Cleaning and maintenance

» Hybrid turf

» Natural turf

» Sports ground construction

ISP GmbH 48167 Münster, Germany info@isp-germany.com www.isp-germany.com

» Testing, quality assurance

ISS GmbH 63263 Neu-Isenburg, Germany info@iss4u.de www.iss4u.de

» Aquatic equipment

» Ice hockey boards

» Ice rink construction

» Ice resurfacers

» Ice sports equipment

IST – Institut für Sportbodentechnik 04416 Markkleeberg, Germany mario-kunze@gmx.net www.sportboden-leipzig.de

» Testing, quality assurance

Jakob Rope Systems 3555 Trubschachen, Switzerland info@jakob.com www.jakob.com

» Facades and building envelopes

» Security systems, fencing

» Perimeter boards and nettings

» Play- and sports ground equipment

JUNCKERS INDUSTRIER A/S 4600 Køge, Denmark sus@junckers.com www.junckers.com

» Indoor sports floorings

» Multi-sport courts

» Sports hall construction

» Stadium and arena construction

» Temporary and modular constructions

KDF - Kataskeves Dapedon Ltd. 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece exports@kdf.gr www.kdf.gr

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Indoor sports floorings

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor sports floorings

Keller Tersch GmbH 39218 Schönebeck, Germany info@kellertersch.de www.kellertersch.de

» Artificial turf

» Cleaning and maintenance

» Hybrid turf

» Natural turf

» Sports ground construction

Kernig Consulting GmbH 48155 Münster, Deutschland info@andreaskernig.de www.kernig-consulting.de

» Consulting

» Fitness centres

» Pools and aquatic facilities

» Architecture & design

KRAIBURG Relastec GmbH & Co. KG 29410 Salzwedel, Germany sportec@kraiburg-relastec.com www.kraiburg-relastec.com/sportec

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Indoor sports floorings

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Playground equipment

Hermann Kutter LandschaftsbauSportplatzbau GmbH & Co. KG 87700 Memmingen, Germany info@kutter-galabau.de www.kutter-galabau.de

» Artificial turf

» Cleaning and maintenance

» Hybrid turf

» Natural turf

» Sports ground construction

Herbert Labarre GmbH & Co. KG 22337 Hamburg, Germany info@labarre-galabau.de www.labarre-galabau.de

» Artificial turf

» Cleaning and maintenance

» Hybrid turf

» Natural turf

» Sports ground construction

Labor Lehmacher | Schneider GmbH & Co. KG 49076 Osnabrück, Germany info@labor-lehmacher.de www.l-l-s.de

» Testing, quality assurance

Labosport International 72100 Le Mans, France contact@labosport.com www.labosport.com

» Testing, quality assurance

Landskate GmbH 50823 Köln, Germany info@lndskt.de www.lndskt.de

» Landscape design

LAUSIN Y VICENTE S.L.

50420 Cadrete, Spain export@lausinyvicente.com www.lausinyvicente.com

» Indoor equipment

» Playground equipment

» Sports ground equipment

» Sports hall dividers

» Stadium and arena equipment

LIKE-ICE Science GmbH 84069 Schierling, Germany info@like-ice.com www.like-ice.com

» Ice hockey boards

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Outdoor sports floorings

Lindner Group 94424 Arnstorf, Germany info@lindner-group.com www.lindner-group.com

» Lighting systems

» Ceilings, windows, walls

Max We‘re here to help:

Silke

» Architecture and design

maier landschaftsarchitektur / Betonlandschaften 51107 Köln, Germany info@maierlandschaftsarchitektur.de www.maierlandschaftsarchitektur.de

» Landscape design

McArena GmbH 71522 Backnang, Germany info@mcarena.de www.mcarena.de

» Multi-sport courts

» Sports hall construction

» Turnkey construction

Melos GmbH 49324 Melle, Germany info@melos-gmbh.com www.melos-gmbh.com

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Sports ground construction

MYRTHA POOLS A&T Europe SPA 46043 Castiglione d/Stiviere (MN), Italy info@myrthapools.com www.myrthapools.com

» Aquatic construction

» Pool construction, other systems

NUSSLI Group 8536 Hüttwilen, Switzerland information@nussli.com www.nussli.com

» Sports hall construction

» Stadium and arena construction

» Stands, seating

» Temporary and modular constructions

» Turnkey construction

Pellikaan Bauunternehmen

Deutschland GmbH 40880 Ratingen, Germany info@pellikaan.de www.pellikaan.de

» Aquatic construction

» Aquatic equipment

» Sports hall construction

» Turnkey construction

PERROT-Regnerbau Calw GmbH 75382 Althengstett, Germany perrot@perrot.de www.perrot.de

» Irrigation systems

Play-Parc Allwetter-Freizeitanlagenbau GmbH 33014 Bad Driburg, Germany info@playparc.de www.playparc.de

» Fitness equipment

» Indoor equipment

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor equipment

» Sports ground equipment

Porplastic Sportbau von Cramm GmbH 72108 Rottenburg a.N., Germany info@porplastic.de www.porplastic.de

» Artificial turf

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Indoor sports floorings

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Sports ground construction

Your

Polytan GmbH 86666 Burgheim, Germany info@polytan.com www.polytan.de

» Artificial turf

» Cleaning and maintenance

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Sports ground construction

Schmitz Foam Products BV 6040 KG Roermond, Netherlands sales@schmitzfoam.com www.schmitzfoam.com

» Artifical turf

» Elastic layers; protecting surfaces

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Sports ground construction

PS+ Planung von Sportstätten 49078 Osnabrück, Germany info@ps-planung.de www.ps-planung.de

» Architecture and design

» Landscape design

Sika Nederland B.V. (Pulastic sports flooring) 7400 AK Deventer, Netherlands export@nl.sika.com www.pulastic.com

» Ceilings, windows, walls

» Indoor sports floorings

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor sports floorings

REGUPOL BSW GmbH 57319 Bad Berleburg, Germany info@regupol.de www.regupol.com

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Indoor sports floorings

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Playground equipment

RICHTER Sportstättenkonzepte GmbH 07629 Hermsdorf, Germany info@sportstaettenkonzepte.de www.sportstaettenkonzepte.de

» Architecture and design

» Landscape design

product and company information on a half page, newsletter feature, plus your logo in the company index –for just EUR 870 per year.

Robbins Sports Surfaces OH 45226 Cincinnati, USA info@robbinsfloor.com www.robbinsfloor.com

» Indoor sports floorings

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Multi-sport courts

Signgrass® NIK-Tufting BV 5571 TJ Bergeijk, Netherlands info@signgrass.com www.signgrass.com

» Artifical turf

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Sports ground construction

» Sports ground equipment

Siteco Beleuchtungstechnik GmbH 83301 Traunreut, Germany info@siteco.de www.siteco.de

» Lighting systems

SMC2 S.A.S. 69440 Mornant, France contact@smc2-construction.com www.smc2-construction.com

» Ceilings, windows, walls

» Facades and building envelopes

» Fixed and retractable roofing systems

» Temporary and modular constructions

» Turnkey construction

SMG Sportplatzmaschinenbau GmbH 89269 Vöhringen, Germany info@smg-machines.com www.smg-machines.com

» Cleaning and maintenance

» Sports ground construction

» Sports ground equipment

Holz-Speckmann GmbH & Co. KG 33790 Halle/ Westfalen, Germany info@speed-lock.com www.speed-lock.com

» Indoor sports floorings

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

Spieth Gymnastics GmbH 73776 Altbach, Germany info@spieth-gymnastics.com www.spieth-gymnastics.com

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Indoor equipment

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Sports ground equipment

STARGUM Zakład Przemysłu Gumowego 73-110, Stargard Szczecinski, Poland office@stargum.pl www.stargum.pl

» Artificial turf

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Indoor sports floorings

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor sports floorings

STOCKMEIER URETHANES GmbH & Co.KG 32657 Lemgo, Germany urethanes.ger@stockmeier.com www.stockmeier-urethanes.de

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Indoor sports floorings

» Outdoor sports floorings

Tatamsport 50014 Zaragoza, Spain tatamsport@toldosserrano.com www.tatamsport.com

» Indoor equipment

» Sports hall dividers

Trenomat GmbH & Co. KG 42327 Wuppertal, Germany info@trenomat.de www.trenomat.de

» Indoor equipment

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Perimeter boards, nettings

» Sports hall dividers

Troldtekt A/S 8310 Tranbjerg J., Denmark info@troldtekt.com www.troldtekt.com

» Ceilings, windows, walls

TURNBAR by Eiden & Wagner 54634 Bitburg, Germany info@turnbar.net www.turnbar.net

» Fitness equipment

» Indoor equipment

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor equipment

» Sports ground equipment

Hans-Joachim Weitzel GmbH & Co. KG 25436 Tornesch, Germany schult@hjweitzel.de www.hjweitzel.de

» Artificial turf

» Elastic layers, protecting surfaces

» Multi-sport courts

» Outdoor sports floorings

» Sports ground construction

Züko Deutschland GmbH 78176 Blumberg, Germany deutschland@zueko.com www.zueko.com

» Changing rooms and equipment

» Ice hockey boards

» Ice resurfacers

» Ice rink construction

» Ice sports equipment

Universal Sport Sportgeräteherstellungs- und Vertriebs GmbH 71101 Schönaich, Germany info@universal-sport.com www.universal-sport.com

» Ice sports equipment

» Indoor equipment

» Mobile floorings, cover systems

» Perimeter boards, nettings

» Sports ground equipment

Vindico Sport GmbH 73463 Westhausen, Germany info@vindico-sport.de www.vindico-sport.com

» Outdoor equipment

» Multi-sport courts

» Stadium and arena equipment

» Sports ground construction

» Sports ground equipment

WM GmbH 39053 Blumau, Italy info@wm-technics.com www.wm-on-ice.com

» Ice resurfacers

ZELLER bäderbau GmbH 89520 Heidenheim, Germany info@zeller-baederbau.com www.zeller-baederbau.com

» Aquatic construction

» Aquatic equipment

» Pool construction, stainless steel

sb 3/2023

International magazine for sports, leisure and recreational facilities

Editorial board and publisher

IAKS

International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities

Eupener Straße 70

50933 Cologne, Germany

Phone +49 (0) 221 16 80 23-0

Fax +49 (0) 221 16 80 23-23

sb@iaks.sport www.iaks.sport

Secretary General with overall responsibility

Klaus Meinel meinel@iaks.sport

Marketing Maximilian Rosenau rosenau@iaks.sport

Fon +49(0)221 168023-13

The publisher has unlimited rights to work accepted for printing.

Reprint or duplication, even of extracts, is only permitted with the publisher‘s written consent.

Subscription price 2023

65 EUR Germany

85 EUR Other countries

12 EUR Single issue

ISSN (Print): 0036-102X

ISSN (Internet): ISSN 2198-4271

Jurisdiction and place of performance: Cologne, Germany

For advertisement prices, see 2023 Media Data.

Translation/Editorial report

Tim Chafer, ExperTeam

Otto-Hahn-Str. 57, 40591 Düsseldorf, Germany

Euro-Sprachendienst Jellen

Rheinaustr. 125, 53225 Bonn, Germany

www.euro-sprachendienst.de

Print

Limberg-Druck

Industriestr. 17

41564 Kaarst, Germany www.limberg.de

Editorial board Silke Bardenheuer bardenheuer@iaks.sport

Fon +49(0)221 168023-11

Graphic design Victoria Page page@iaks.sport

Fon +49(0)221 168023-12

UPCOMING ISSUES

Issue 4/2023 – Activating urban spaces

Date of publication: 31.08.2023

Issue 5/2023 – IOC IPC IAKS architecture prizes

Date of publication: 24.10.2023

Issue 6/2023 – Active communities

Date of publication: 15.12.2023

Issue 1/2024 – Sports halls and arenas

Date of publication: 29.02.2024

Photo: Brett Boardman

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