Transforming a university sport and recreation facility into a more attractive space for students and employees to enjoy

Lincoln University Recreation Center Redevelopment

The redeveloped Recreation Center at Lincoln University is a two-story multiuse building comprising just over 21,528 square feet (2,000 square metres) of space for indoor sports, exercise, teaching, research and associated amenities. We provided mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and fire engineering services.

The center needed to remain operational, safety being paramount, while different parts of the facility were demolished and redeveloped. Challenges included integrating alternative means of heat generation for space heating and domestic hot water for the complete facility. We solved this by using air-to-water heat-pump systems, which resulted in a more sustainable and economic outcome for the campus.

It was crucial that the main halls of center remain operational during construction phases, such as when the main entry facilities and support facilities were unavailable, or when some space was needed for the exam period. This required our team to devise compliant but cost-efficient temporary solutions to keep the main halls available for use. Throughout the process, we maintained ongoing compliance with the New Zealand Building Code.

The center now offers a new main gymnasium, refurbished squash courts, changerooms, and multiuse recreational spaces.