Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua, Wellington
Ten years after Stephenson&Turner designed and built a new aquatic centre, we were asked to build a new recreation centre adjacent to the very successful swimming facility.
The new centre comprises two main halls, one housing three large competition-sized basketball or netball courts, the other just one court. The centre also supports facilities such as a fitness gym, changing rooms, meeting rooms, offices and staff services. The recreation centre shares the aquatic centre's existing entrance area, so it has been revamped and the surrounding Te Rauparaha Park has been improved and extended.
The result is a simple, modern form made of materials designed to complement its intended uses. The building has a concrete block interior contrasted with carpets and splashes of colour. All sports flooring meets international rating requirements and there is seating for 2000 people (3000 for an indoor concert).
Te Rauparaha received an Excellence award in the 2009 Holmes Consulting Tourism and Leisure category of the New Zealand Property Council Awards.
