The IOC, IPC and IAKS award international sport architecture prizes

Europe has dominated this year's international architecture awards for sports and leisure facilities presented by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS).

At a festive gala on the evening of 27th October 2015, much-coveted medals for exemplary architecture were presented to project entries from 15 countries. However, no Australian or New Zealand projects were recognised while only a pair of Asian projects received prizes – the Archery Hall and Boxing Club in Tokyo, Japan and the Daegu Sports Court, Korea.

Canada and Switzerland were the most successful nations, claiming a total of four prizes each from a total of 130 projects spread across 30 countries.

Composed of international personalities, the jury for the 2015 IOC/IAKS Award is commending three facilities with Gold, seven with Silver and 14 with Bronze. The IPC/IAKS Distinction for accessible sports facilities is going to four participants. 

Special achievements
The most successful architects of the competition are KEINGART – space activators in Denmark, the creative minds behind the Athletics Exploratorium in Odense (Gold) and Tornhøjhallen in Aalborg (Bronze). In addition, Ruben Reddy Architects from South Africa are receiving both the IOC/IAKS Award in Silver and the IPC/IAKS Distinction for the Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia.

Two sports facilities for the London Olympics were also among the winners: the London Aquatics Centre from Zaha Hadid Architects and the London 2012 Shooting Venue from magma architecture. 

Two FIFA World Cup 2014 stadia in Brazil were also awarded prizes: the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador (Schulitz Architekten and Tetra Arquitetura) and the Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre (Hype Studio Arquitetura).
 
Architecture prizes for accessibility and for students
The IPC/IAKS Distinction commends the accessibility of sports facilities and other buildings so that people with disabilities have the opportunity to practise and watch sport without limitations or obstacles. 37 projects have been submitted for the IPC/IAKS Distinction. The 4 prize-winning facilities are located in Puerto Rico, Honduras, Canada and Russia.

The IOC, IPC and IAKS are also presenting, for the third time, the Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals for innovative designs and strategies for sports and leisure facilities. The competition is targeted at young architects, landscape architects and designers who are still studying or in the first two years of their careers.

This prize attracted 43 young planners and designers from 19 countries. 
 
Winners of the 2015 IOC/IAKS Awards
 
Gold
• Athletics Exploratorium in Odense, Denmark
 Architects: KEINGART – space activators
• Ciutadella Park Sports Centre in Barcelona, Spain
 Architects: Battle i Roig Arquitectes
• Naturbad Riehen, Switzerland
Architects: Herzog & de Meuron
 
Silver
• London Aquatics Centre in London, United Kingdom
 Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
• Palais Thermal Pool in Bad Wildbad, Germany
 Architects: Kaufmann Theilig & Partner
• Baths of Géronde in Sierre, Switzerland
 Architects: NAU
• Sargans Sports Centre, Switzerland
 Architects: Blue Architects and Ruprecht Architekten
• Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia
 Architects: Ruben Reddy Architects, SIC Mostovic
• Prince Arthur's Landing in Thunder Bay, Canada
 Architects: Brook McIlroy Inc.
• Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil
 Architects: Schulitz Architekten and Tetra Arquitetura
 
Bronze
• Archery Hall and Boxing Club in Tokyo, Japan
 Architects: FT Architects
• NCC Rideau Canal Skateway Facilities in Ottawa, Canada
 Architects: CSV Architects
• London 2012 Shooting Venue, United Kingdom
 Architects: magma architecture Ostermann & Kleinheinz
• Blocs & Walls Climbing Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark
 Architects: Powerhouse Company
• Regent Park Aquatic Centre in Toronto, Canada
 Architects: MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects
• BG Zehnergasse in Vienna, Austria
 Architects: GABU Heindl Architektur
• Centre sportif Jules Ladoumegue in Paris, France
 Architects: DFA Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes
• Tornhøjhallen in Aalborg, Denmark
 Architects: KEINGART – space activators
• Luanda Multisports Pavilion, Angola
 Architects: Berger Architects
• Bossard Arena in Zug, Switzerland
 Architects: Scheitln Syfrig Architekten AG
• Stade Léo Lagrange in Toulon, France
 Architects: archi5
• Landhausplatz in Innsbruck, Austria
 Architects: LAAC Architects | Stiefel Kramer Architecture
• Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre, Brazil
 Architects: Hype Studio Arquitetura
• Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden
 Architects: C.F. Møller and Krook & Tjäder Arkitekter

Winners of the 2015 IPC/IAKS Distinction
• Ray & Joan Kroc Community Centre in Guayama, Puerto Rico
 Architects: SCF Architects
• University Sports Complex in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
 Architects: Victor Cuadra Burlero + UNAH Department of Infrastructure
• Edmonds Community Centre in Burnaby, Canada
 Architects: CEI Architecture
• Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia
 Architects: Ruben Reddy Architects and SIC Mostovic
 
Winners of the 2015 Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals
 
Gold
• Sports4Peace by Philippos Michael and Panayiotis Savva (Cyprus)
 
Silver
• Actus by Vincent Morissette (Canada)
 
Bronze
• Athens Urban Park by Kallirroi Taroudaki and Antonia Vavanou (Greece)
• Daegu Sports Court, Korea by Mauricio Vieto Perez (United Kingdom), Natalie Kwee (Singapore) and Caio Caesar Barboza (USA)

Images: The Archery Hall and Boxing Club in Tokyo, Japan (top) and the Daegu Sports Court, Korea (below)

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