Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre

Project Overview

Considered a world-class facility, Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre was officially opened by New Zealand’s Prime Minster in August 2022. It is one of only a few 50m World Aquatics (formerly FINA) Olympic pools in the country.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping delays, and unfortunate weather events, the facility was completed on time and within budget, which allowed additional amenities to be added.

Collaborating with Apollo Projects, Natare was selected to provide the 50m competition pool and 25m learn-to-swim/warm-up pool, movable bulkhead, filtration, and Natatec® PVC membrane.

• The facility was designed to host major national and international events, including seating for up to 1662 spectators.
• With sustainability a major consideration for the new design, Natare stainless steel pools and their accompanying products were a perfect fit due to their recyclable materials, extreme durability and longevity, and low maintenance requirements.
• The 10-lane competition pool features a 1500m wide Natare bulkhead which can easily be moved to reconfigure the pool to accommodate multiple course length changes and host different programming activities simultaneously.

Accessibility was an important factor in the design of the facility.

• The warm water pool has an accessible ramp to ensure a safe entrance into the pool for all patrons.
• Both pools are outfitted with poolpods that lift swimmers in and out of the pool independently and comfortably.

Solutions Used for Hawke’s Bay Regional Aquatic Centre

SPS Pool System: A Natare Structural Panel System (SPS) is a bolted panelized pool construction system with a fully-welded gutter system.

• Why SPS?: Primarily used for in-ground installation, this innovative system is pre-fabricated in our warehouse and shipped as a kit to be assembled entirely on-site, providing flexibility and ease of adjustment during installation.

Stainless Steel Pool Gutters: Two types of perimeter gutter systems are used on the Hawke’s Bay pools: the competition pool incorporates MS1400 Roll-Out and Fully-Recessed gutters, while the remaining perimeter and the learn-to-swim pool utilize Roll-Out gutters. Both pools also have automatic surge control weirs in the gutter systems for continuous skimming and flow.

• The new Hawke’s Bay facility design features different gutter systems for the competition and learn-to-swim pools, along with automatic surge control weirs. This is important for pool designers, builders, and operators as it offers efficient water management and enhances the overall swimming experience.

PVC Membrane: Both pools are lined with our light blue PVC membrane system, while the ramp in the learn-to-swim pool features medium blue in the textured, slip-resistant PVC membrane for added safety.

• The smooth and non-porous surface of the PVC membrane system makes the facility easy to clean, resulting in cost savings on operational and maintenance expenses, ensuring the safety and well-being of swimmers.

MicroFlo® Regenerative Vacuum Sand Filters: The plant room consists of our cost-effective filtration system, which is pre-fabricated and arrives onsite as a complete, ready-to-install filter plant, reducing construction costs and installation time.

• This efficient filtration system is important for facilities with a high bather load, as it is designed to meet their specific requirements while minimizing maintenance costs and water usage.

Movable Bulkhead: The Hawke’s Bay facility features two Natare moving bulkheads, allowing flexibility for multiple programming activities and easy change from long to short courses.

• The facility’s world-class status and the inclusion of moving bulkheads make it an ideal venue for major competitions, ensuring versatility and adaptability for athletes and organizers.