The Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre in Sydney, Swimming Pool, Sports Facility, Architecture, Images

The Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre in Sydney

New South Wales Swimming Facility design by NBRS Architecture

11 Oct 2017

Community Minded Aquatic Facility

Design: NBRS Architecture

Location: Lidcombe, Sydney, Australia

Revitalised Swimming Facility Named after former Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Ruth Everuss

NBRS comprehensively renewed the facility to create a state-of-the art centre that respects the historic, social and aesthetic significance of the original fabric. Integrated landscaped areas express strong geometries and provide family friendly recreation areas.

The aquatic centre’s predecessor, the Auburn Pool, which opened in 1959 had become severely degraded and required rejuvenation to satisfy industry standards and to meet the growing needs of the Cumberland region for the years to come.

The revitalised centre features outdoor 50m & 25m lap pools to provide for swimming carnivals, leisure swimming, springboard diving and waterpolo, an interactive water play area and an extensive surrounding concourse with spectator grandstand. The indoor facility includes a 25m lap pool, family leisure pool and program pool.

The building’s namesake, former Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Ruth Everuss, attended a Community Open Day at the centre and commented that its almost unrecognisable from when she first saw the pool as a teenager before the Rome Olympics.

“From what I’ve seen the new facility is unbelievable. Just unbelievable.” Ms Everuss said.

“I suppose after 30 years I knew every inch of the old pool and I have to say Cumberland Council has done more than a sensational job.”

The new centre offers a range of year-round aquatic, leisure and wellness programs for people of all ages and abilities. The facility is an important service which allows the multi-cultural community to meet, learn, keep fit and socialise.

Project Architect, Derek Mah said: “NBRS exists to achieve life changing environments and we are proud to have played a part in providing an exemplar facility for the diverse community.”

“An important aspect of our design was the inclusion of a retractable privacy curtain which surrounds one of the centre’s 3 swimming pools – a move taken to make the aquatic centre more accessible to all community members.”