Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre secures Property Industry awards

Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre secures Property Industry awards

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre – Powered by Pakn’Save Hastings secured two national construction project awards with its design and build construction project partner Apollo Projects at the 2023 Property Industry Awards in Auckland last month.

The centre, operated by the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust, won the premier Excellence and Best in Category award for Tourism and Leisure Projects at the 2023 Property Council NZ Industry Awards. This was in addition to having received a Gold Award at the 2023 Master Builders’ Association Commercial Project Awards earlier this year.

The Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre - Powered by PAK’nSAVE Hastings boasts a FINA rated 50-metre competitive pool, a 25-metre learn-to-swim pool, and the Mactaggart Hydrotherapy Centre.

Property Council Chief Executive Leonie Freeman said awarding the aquatic centre’s excellence and best-in-category win was based not only on measuring a financial return, but on the positive community impact of the facility.

Freeman noted “overall, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre is an impressive facility that delivers on all these measures and is sure to attract visitors from all over the region and further afield. Whether you’re a professional athlete or simply looking for a fun day out, this facility has something for everyone.”

Apollo Projects co-founder Paul Lloyd said the Regional Aquatic Centre was already regarded as New Zealand’s premier aquatic facility and was a testament to the determination of some incredible people and the community within which it was built.

Lloyd added “everyone, from the client to the designers and sub-contractors, and all the team at Apollo, are hugely proud of what has been achieved. It really shows what can be achieved with a no-excuses attitude.”

Swimming NZ Head of Participation and Events, Dale Johnson said the national body and its competitors had been impressed with the quality of the pool and infrastructure included within the facility and shared “the facility has been perfectly designed to ensure the efficient and safe running of large events that ensures everyone goes home with nothing but a positive experience.

As part of the design brief, the Hawke’s Bay Community Fitness Centre Trust wanted the world-class facility to be accessible to all.

This has seen the fit out include an accessible ramp in the learn to swim area; the installation of a pool pod imported from Scotland; and hoists to assist people with changing and getting into the pools.

HBCFCT Founding Trustee Bruce Mactaggart said the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre Powered by Pakn’Save Hastings had already significantly exceeded expectations in both community use and also for competitive events including hosting national and regional swim meets, along with bringing a new sport to the region — water polo.

Mactaggart advised “Apollo Projects delivered on their promise to build a world-class aquatic centre that can be used by everyone, to have built such a world-class facility on time and on budget during Covid is a really outstanding achievement.

“We are particularly proud of the equipment that enables easy access for people with mobility issues.

“Also the original scope for the build was delivered under budget and this enabled the addition of two hydrotherapy pools which are used for rehabilitation and therapeutic applications, as well as used by athletes for recovery and coaching purposes.

“I’m delighted that the team at Apollo have been recognised with these awards."

For more information on the Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre