Best in global sports architecture recognised at 2023 IAKS Awards

The best in sustainable, accessible and innovative sports and leisure facilities have been recognised this week at the 2023 International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) awards.

Presented at a festive gala dinner in the German city of Cologne on Tuesday during the FSB Trade Fair in the presence of distinguished personalities from architecture, management and sport, 11 projects in five categories were the recipients of IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize.

Two student projects representing the future of sports architecture were also recognised for their originality and inventiveness while two Public Choice Awards were presented for the first time.

With the Awards’ jury having considered 88 competition entries from 22 different countries, it was noted that this year almost half of the award-winning projects were associated with the theme of ‘water’ in any aggregate state, be it as a sports space as such or due to its topographical location.

The night saw Canada lead in terms of the number of award winners with a total of six award-winning sports and recreation facilities with projects including community centres, an ice rink, an urban park and a rowing centre.

Canadian architects MJMA are being commended in two categories for projects in their home country, namely for the Churchill Meadows Community Centre and, in cooperation with Raimondo + Associates Architects, for the Neil Campbell Rowing Centre.

This year, the jury selected many inspiring projects that generate value for local communities - an important issue in the world of sport that also reflects the theme of this week’s IAKS Congress: ‘Building resilient communities through sports and leisure facilities’.

This year's IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize has dispensed with the former gold, silver and bronze award categories presented in previous editions.

Winners of the 2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize are:

Community outdoor grounds and public areas
• SFU Stadium, Burnaby, Canada
Architect: Perkins and Will
Operator: Simon Fraser University

• Skanderborg City Baths, Skanderborg, Denmark
Architect: Spektrum Arkitekter
Operator: Skanderborg Kommunes Biblioteker

• Rainbow Park, Vancouver, Canada
Architect: DIALOG
Operator: Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation

Indoor facilities for sports, leisure and recreation
• Churchill Meadows Community Centre, Mississauga, Canada
Architect: MJMA Architecture & Design
Operator: City of Mississauga

• Ravelin Sports Centre, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Architect: FaulknerBrowns Architects
Operator: University of Portsmouth

• Centre De Glaces Intact Assurance, Québec, Canada
Architect: Lemay
Operator: Corporation de gestion du Centre de Glaces de Québec

Pools, spas and wellness facilities
• Silvretta Therme, Ischgl, Austria
Architect: KRIEGER Architekten | Ingenieure with Wimreiter & Partner
Operator: Silvrettaseilbahn

• Maple Ridge Leisure Centre Expansion, Maple Ridge, Canada
Architect: SHAPE Architecture
Operator: City of Maple Ridge

Specialised facilities for sports, leisure and recreation
• Maritime Center, Esbjerg, Denmark
Architect: Werk Arkitekter with Snøhetta Arkitektur
Operator: Esbjerg Municipality

• Neil Campbell Rowing Centre, St. Catharines, Canada
Architect: MJMA Architecture & Design with Raimondo + Associates Architects
Operator: Canadian Henley Rowing Corporation

Major outdoor stadiums
• Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Architect: TAISEI DESIGN Planners Architects & Engineers with AZUSA SEKKEI and with Kengo Kuma & Associates
Operator: Japan Sport Council

International interest in the young talent architecture award
In addition, the IOC, IPC and IAKS are presenting the Architecture and Design Award for students and young professionals, recognising innovative designs and strategies for sports and leisure facilities.

A total of 13 interesting designs and concepts were submitted from all over the world, including China, Germany, Norway and Poland.

The jury presented two awards to projects in Canada and Ireland.

2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals winners:

• The Entwine, Canada
Design: Kaamil Allah Baksh

• Between Borders, Ireland
Design: Cian O’Mahony

Public Choice Award enjoys great response
For the first time in the history of the IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize, a Public Choice Award was presented. Both completed projects - ranging from small trend sports facilities to large
stadiums, indoors, outdoors and in the water - as well as newcomer designs were up for selection.

The professional public had the chance to nominate a top candidate in each of the categories by 30th September 2023.

Public Choice Award of the 2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize for sustainable, accessible and innovative sports and leisure facilities winner:

• Quintal do Ban, Campinas, Brazil
Architect: Effect Arquitetura & VMOffice
Operator: Ancar Ivanhoe - Shopping Parque das Bandeiras

Public Choice Award of the 2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals winner:

• Rio Rimac Sports & Recreation Center, Peru
Design: Carlos Amed Carrillo Aguilar and Jorge Luis Castillo Tomás.

Images: IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize winners pictured at Tuesday night's ceremony (top, credit: Koelnmesse/Uwe Weiser), Silvretta Therme, Austria (middle) and the Japan National Stadium (below, credit: Japan Sport Council).