Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier, South Australia building, Australian architecture images

Wulanda Recreation & Convention Centre in Mount Gambier

29 Mar 2023

Architecture: DesignInc

Location: Mount Gambier, South Australia

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier South Australia

Photos by Zoe Wighton

Wulanda Recreation & Convention Centre, Australia

Limestone sinkholes and ancient volcanic events have formed Berrin / Mount Gambier’s environs and provide natural focal points in the landscape. These distinctive landmarks inform the design of the Wulanda Recreation & Convention Centre, a gathering place for all to participate in sports, recreation, and community events.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier South Australia

Wulanda means ‘enjoy or cherish’ in Bunganditj language and acknowledges the Boandik peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land where the centre stands. The new consolidated complex replaces aging aquatics and sporting facilities, bringing multiple community-focused spaces under one roof.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier South Australia Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier South Australia

Extensive consultation with representatives from community and sporting sectors, including school students, service groups, sporting clubs and performing arts groups, ensured all needs were identified and accommodated through a project vision and guiding principles. The values identified were Local, Flexible, Inclusive and Sustainable.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier

Local
A long, low profile with a sweeping roof and generous canopy provides a sheltered and welcoming entrance. The large entry foyer explores the concept of layered geological formations through material use and form. Curved corners create organic, free-flowing spaces easily accessible via the central entrance.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre building

Warm, tactile qualities of limestone and timber are featured and pay homage to the surrounding locality and the Australian timber industry through the use of Tasmanian Oak, Sculptform wall panelling, and Spotted Gum. The timber and stone treatments weave throughout the building, creating visual links to all the main spaces of the facility from the entryway.

“There is a real opportunity for this project to be a catalyst to further expand the knowledge and technology of timber construction within Australia, showcase the benefits of timber construction and promote the timber industry.”
Ben Luppino, Associate Director, DesignInc Adelaide

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier building

Flexible and Inclusive
The initial sporting-focused brief evolved into a balance of sports and community facilities, addressing the needs of approximately 60 community groups, from large clubs to smaller volunteer groups, and individuals of all ages and abilities.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier

Six multi-purpose courts, clubrooms and amenities, a gym and allied services provide ample opportunity to participate in sports and recreation. Acoustic design, retractable seating and multi-purpose surfaces enable the centre to adapt from sporting competitions to tradeshows, concerts and events.

A new indoor pool hall houses a 25m lap pool, a program pool for special-needs groups, a learn-to-swim pool and a splash pad. Specialist sensory-adaptable spaces within the warm water pool allow ambient sound and light to be adjusted to suit sensitive users.

Community offices, meeting and function rooms, a crèche and a youth zone bring people together in the two-storey complex. More than 1000 people can be accommodated at conference events and performances, providing significant social and economic benefits to the community.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier South Australia

Sustainable
The design team adopted a highly integrated and coordinated approach to all design disciplines, carefully integrating building services, and structural and specialist aquatic services to achieve the sustainable objectives identified during the consultation process.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier

The existing 50m outdoor pool was retained and updated. The new indoor aquatic zone incorporates glulam beams spanning 42m, the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. The European Spruce is ideally suited to the humid environment of the indoor aquatic hall, providing whole-of-life benefits for health, maintenance and operational costs.

Aquatic centres are typically high-energy usage facilities. Electric mechanical and aquatic systems enable heat exchange technology to be utilised. Surplus heat from the courts is used to meet the aquatic heating demands, and vice versa. In addition, the fully electric system is offset via a significant photovoltaic array to sustain efficient and integrated heating and cooling systems.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier South Australia

Since its opening, Wulanda has become the new community gathering space, providing a community facility that meets the needs of the broad demographics within the region.

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier by DesignInc

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre in Mount Gambier, South Australia – Building Information

Design: DesignInc – https://urbanhabitats.com.au/
Project size: 12880 sqm
Project Budget: AUD 62,500,000.00
Completion date: 2022
Building levels: 2

Wulanda Recreation and Convention Centre Mount Gambier Australia

Photographer: Zoe Wighton

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Wulanda Recreation & Convention Centre, Mount Gambier, South Australia images / information received 290323 from DesignInc

Location: Mount Gambier, South Australia

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