Tauranga on New Zealand’s North Island has made the most of its abundant geothermal energy for recreational use. The Baywave TECT Aquatic and Leisure Centre has five separate indoor heated pools including a wave machine, hydroslide and a bombing platform. The centre also houses a large gym and fitness facility, sauna, steam rooms and cafeteria.
A key feature of the complex is its geothermal hot water bore system, which provides the centre with year-round free heating and hot water.
End-to-End Services
Our team provided integrated services for the project. The choice of pool water filtration system was a key design issue. We analysed existing Council-owned facilities and operator preferences before deciding to use vacuum filtration for the larger pools and a pressure system for the smaller ones.
We introduced supply air for pool hall ventilation at a low level around the perimeter zones of the pool wall via concrete plenums below the pool concourse. This system ensures excellent air distribution and condensation control while providing a comfortable indoor environment for occupants.
Key Achievements
Today, the centre is one of the Bay of Plenty’s top regional attractions, hosting 230,000 visitors each year.
The project was highly commended in the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Energywise Awards (2006), recognising its use of geothermal hot water bores.