South Waikato Sports and Events Centre

This new sports and events centre in Tokoroa fills a much needed gap in the local community. It features a large indoor double court gymnasium, providing the ability to host competitive games, a smaller gym for group activities, as well as two large function rooms, administration area and kitchens, all adjoining the existing extensive sports fields.

This was the result of a design and build competition which was completed with Argon Construction and won on the basis of the submission of a concept design and specifications for materials and services. The client’s requirements were very specific with the brief calling for both qualitative and quantitative standards to be met. During the design period refinements were considered and research undertaken to provide the client with a building that satisfied and exceeded their brief. This submission was reviewed by the client and their specialist advisors to ensure that the proposal complied with their exacting quality standards.

The South Waikato Sports and Events Centre is a focal point for Tokoroa bringing the community together to meet, celebrate, play sport and have fun. The aim was to celebrate this vibrancy with splashes of bright colours to provide the building with its own distinctive personality.

Each segment of the building houses different bright colour accents, which are mirrored in the interior colour profile. Predominantly greens, yellows and oranges, not juxtaposed as such, rather as large vibrant sections, so the colour can really impact upon the viewer and give its own feeling to the space. These bright colours sit against a palette of neutrals and greys with Resene Atmosphere on exterior blockwork, exposed block and slab edges, Resene Ironside Grey on eastern fibre cement, Gull Grey on roofing and Resene Black White on soffits and general structure.

A series of steel frames in a bright custom red by Resene leads you to the entry door, housing a Resene Woodsman Natural stained pergola; this duo is enhanced by exterior fibre cement panels in Resene Atoll and Resene Groovy. These coloured panels complement and enliven the various surfaces of the otherwise neutral entry façade. When viewing from the sports field a different colour profile appears, dominated by Resene Saffron and complemented by panels in Resene Clockwork Orange and Resene Iko Iko. This overall mixture of bright warm colours creates an intriguing and welcoming atmosphere, with bold colours to be discovered as visitors move around the centre.

Architectural specifier: Bossley Architects
Building contractor: Argon Construction
Client: South Waikato District Council
Interior designer: Bossley Architects
Painting contractor: GMR Holmac Ltd
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2014

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