Queensland government releases first render of 2032 Brisbane Olympics venue
Updated ,first published
The Queensland government says the National Aquatics Center for the Brisbane Olympics will be inherited by generations of swimmers, but its cost and design details have yet to be determined.
Premier David Crisafulli said swimming was part of Queensland’s DNA, alongside homegrown Olympic and Paralympic champions Cate Campbell and Brendan Hall, at the announcement at the Centenary Pool complex on Thursday morning.
“It’s important to have a facility that will have a lasting legacy, not just short-term, but also long-term,” Crisafulli said.
As this byline announced two weeks ago, Brisbane City Council will hand over the Centenary Billiards Complex to the Games’ Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority on 1 September.
ARM Architecture and NH Architecture have been selected to deliver the Spring Hill center on the edge of Victoria Park in partnership with Queensland Arkhefield.
The center will feature new pools and exercise areas and will be within walking distance of the new Olympic stadium.
ARM director Andrew Hayne said the centre’s design would celebrate the heritage elements of the Centenary pool while respecting Queensland’s landscape and climate.
“To be honest, the true measure of success will not be two weeks in 2032, it will be measured by Queenslanders learning to swim here, competing here, exercising and rallying here,” he said.
The construction timeline for the National Aquatics Center has not yet been confirmed, but August 30 will be the current pool’s last day of operation.
Other details of the pool’s design have not yet been announced.
When the government published its 100-day review of the Games’ infrastructure, it said the pool should have 8,000 permanent seats and a capacity for 25,000 Games spectators.
The person responsible for building the stadiums admitted that this number could fluctuate.
“This is a complex process; we haven’t started yet,” said Simon Crooks, chief of the Games’ Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA).
The federal and state governments set a budget of $7.1 billion for the seven new stadiums and 10 improvements needed for the Games, with funding split 50:50.
At the pool, Crooks repeated the stance he expressed in the budget estimates Wednesday, saying the money needed for each project is unknown but will be within budget.
He said that four construction companies put out tenders for the construction of the center and the tenders will be closed at the end of the month.
“I’m not talking about the budget… because that would disrupt the price they gave me,” he said.
Crooks said a project verification report for the pool complex will be done toward the end of the year.
Crisafulli also said the government should be cautious about prices.
“When the works are delivered, you will see the price. This is how it should be,” he said.
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