Negawatt Projects to stage Melbourne and Sydney events on energy efficient aquatic centre design

Renewable energy consultants Negawatt Projects are to present one-day events in Melbourne and Sydney that will consider the premise of building a net zero aquatic centre.

Described as 'hypotheticals', the July events, led by Negawatt Projects' Derek Harbison, will see presenters work through what that involves in relation to their particular disciplines and experience.

The information from each session will build into the final session, where the architects and engineers will plan their ideal aquatic centre and what sort of energy performance it will have.

The premise
The fictitious regional town of Pax has committed to building a new aquatic centre. Pax has a population of 60,000 people and the new Splash Aquatic Centre will be the hub of the town.

The pool committee in the town has committed to building the most energy efficient aquatic centre in Australia. 

In this event, the hypothetical Splash Aquatic Centre will be designed in one day, with input from council staff, centre managers, engineers and architects working at the cutting edge of these centres in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Information from the event will be used to produce a comprehensive guide for councils, engineers and architects who are planning to build high performing aquatic centres. The event is divided into four sessions which feed into the final design.

Presenters
Guest presenters are leading experts in their field from Australia, New Zealand and the UK, including:

• Sarah Bond, Climate Action Lead, Sustainable Environment and Facilities, Yarra Ranges Council
• Paul Elshaug, Recreation Planner, Surf Coast Shire
• Sean Keown, Senior Climate and Sustainability Officer, Surf Coast Shire
• Barry Harrison, General Manager Aquatic Facilities, WynActive
• Cameron Giles, Swim School, Sales and Services Manager, WynActive
• Alek Olszeski, Manager, Aquatic Industry Services, Life Saving Victoria
• Stephen Platt, Engineering Lead for the St Sidwell’s Aquatic Centre, Arup Manchester UK (tbc)
• Nick Yannakis, Technical Director and Business Director of Aquatics, BECA
• Alan Pears AM, Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT, Fellow University of Melbourne
• Tammy Beck, Executive Director, Williams Ross Architects
• Stephen Maxwell, Director, Williams Ross Architects
• Michael Cook, Principal, Hunt Architects, Sydney
• Sean Keown, Senior Climate and Sustainability Officer, Surf Coast Shire
• Paul Elshaug, Recreation Planner, Surf Coast Shire
• Barry Harrison, General Manager Aquatic Facilities, WynActive
• Rick Edwards, Founder and Director, Environmental Technology Solutions
• Andy Marlow Director, Envirotecture and Passivhaus Design & Construct
• Simon Duck, Senior Manager Aquatics and Recreation, Inner West Council
• Zak Irfan, Technical Lead, Hunt Architects, Sydney

Click here for information on the event on Wednesday 5th July (10am to 4pm), The Independent Theatre, North Sydney

Click here for information on the event on Friday 7th July (10am to 4pm), Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School, Melbourne