Merged Australian engineering practice gains recognition for Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre

Built Environment Collective (BEC) has shared information on the scope of the works that it undertook at the Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre in Western Sydney.

Opened in late 2022, The Hills Shire Council facility has gone on to gain recognition, securing the prestigious UDIA NSW Excellence in Social and Community Infrastructure (Recreational Facility) Award and to win in the Cohesive Communities Category at the 2023 National Awards for Local Government.

The facility includes a World Aquatics approved 50m, 10-lane swimming pool, a 25m indoor learn-to-swim pool, a 20m warm-water pool, outdoor waterplay splash pad, gym and fitness centre, and spa and sauna facilities. Supporting infrastructure includes a reception, retail facilities, clubhouse, and 52-space carpark.

The BEC/ team designed the pool structures for the project, which needed to accommodate for the reactive clay soils at the site. The differential movement of pools is often a controlling criterion, and needs to be limited to 4mm to achieve even water flow along a perimeter wetdeck. For this project the pools were piled to rock, with a sacrificial void former under the floors, to limit differential movements which were likely due to reactive clay heave.

BEC and Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners
BEC merged with Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) in early 2022 - combining 50-years of multi-discipline engineering consultancy practice. The expanded operation is now delivering projects globally, from offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Cairns as well as the Chinese city of Shenzhen and the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, providing structural, civil, MEP and ESD engineering consultancy, along with project management.

BEC Executive Director, John Tuxworth explained “the merger has expanded the geographical coverage of GNFP’s original Aquatic Engineering specialty, and also facilitates full multi-discipline support for sports and leisure projects.

“It optimally positions us to apply our leading aquatic expertise for the new and upgraded facilities required for the 2032 Olympic Games from our head office in Brisbane.”

Over recent years the team has been working on projects in four countries, including several projects for the United Nations, and as of this month, BEC provided full multi-discipline engineering for Australia’s first Certified Passivhaus Training facility - CTC’s Marshman Building.

The Quarry by Frasers Property
BEC has also provided all engineering disciplines for ClubQ in Brisbane - an architecturally designed resident amenity centre within a masterplanned residential community - for the principal contractor, Integral Constructions.

At the heart of the community, ClubQ is a focal point for health and wellbeing, with the 4,609 metre² hub including a 25m lap pool and two additional resort-style, walk-in pools with an integrated waterfall and a childrens’ splash and play area.

The residents’ wellness space includes a fully equipped gymnasium and meditation area, along with a generous kick and throw oval with surrounding nature play zones.

It also feature an entertainer’s kitchen, dining rooms, event spaces, library and work zones.

Commenting on this project, Tuxworth noted “as always, our engineering contribution is just the ‘supporting act’. Our multi-discipline delivery model provides two key advantages.

“The first is a reduced administrative burden for the principal consultant or contractor.

“The second is enhanced quality assurance and reduced construction risk afforded by internal coordination.”

“In this instance we are delighted to have aided the realisation of architecture by national practice Rothelowman, which is embraced lovingly by landscape designed by LatStudio.”

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Images: The Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre in Western Sydney (top and middle) and aquatic spaces at ClubQ ath The Quarry (below). Credit: BEC.