National Throws Centre of Excellence at QAS

This is the first certified carbon neutral QAS facility and part of Queensland’s commitment to delivering the world’s first climate positive Games in 2032. WSP was engaged as the sustainability and embodied carbon consultant and has successfully facilitated in the achievement of a Climate Active Carbon Neutral Certification for this award-winning elite training hub.

Sustainable designs to cater for sporting excellence

Funded through the Queensland Government, QAS, Athletics Australia (AA) and the Australian Institute of Sport AIS with support from Stadiums Queensland, the Throws Pavilion provides elite Commonwealth and Olympic level athletes and para-athletes with an elite hub to train in sub-tropical climate conditions year-round in preparation for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

WSP carried out embodied carbon assessments throughout the project journey to guide the design team in achieving a carbon neutral facility for the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS).

With such distinctive yet related functional ‘throws’ sports including javelin, shot-put, discuss and hammer, three distinct building shapes were created: a strip for the javelin linear runup and throw; a cone for the helical spin of the discus and hammer; and a flat plane for the push of the shot-put.

The project team engineered an efficient structural design that maximised the use of natural ventilation and daylighting to reduce the operational energy consumption of the building. With the use of semi-translucent roofing and cladding, this helps with the cooling of the building and eliminates the need for artificial lighting during daytime training.

WSP provided specialist advice to assist the project team in material selections by quantifying the carbon impacts and the potential savings of different materiality options. Our team also facilitated and guided the wider team on the formal carbon neutral certification through the Climate Active program.

This project won the 2023 Australian Institute of Architects' Queensland Architecture Awards Award for Public Architecture

Location

Brisbane, Australia

Client

Hutchinson Builders, Stadiums Queensland

Project Status

Complete

The renaissance of timber

Most of the building featured Queensland-sourced timber which replaced traditional structural steel elements. Timber is a naturally grown renewable building material that stores carbon and requires minimal energy in its production.

Thanks to its sustainability benefits, the speed of construction through off-site manufacture, and the growing evidence of the benefits to the well-being of occupants, timber is a major contributor to the Pavilion’s carbon neutral achievement. The timber was sourced locally from XLAM Australia’s production facility in Maryborough to minimise carbon emissions in the delivery of materials during construction.

The National Throws Centre of Excellence is a testament to WSP’s commitment to driving sustainable outcomes and delivering carbon neutral buildings. With its recent achievement in carbon neutral certification, this building serves as an inspiring test case for the economical delivery of sustainable sporting facilities in line with the Queensland Government’s commitment to climate positive Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.

The enthusiastic input from a collaborative team of expert designers and engineers has resulted in the creation of a future ready building, and a great place that will impact several generations of athletes coming through Queensland Academy of Sport.

What makes a place

Faced with the challenges of climate change and society’s evolving needs, we need to rethink our buildings and cities. They must deliver environmental, economic and social benefits: enhancing health and wellbeing, supporting sustainable development, protecting our environments, and adapting to whatever the future brings.

The National Throws Centre of Excellence is what makes a place in driving sustainable outcomes and nurture generations of athletes coming through Queensland Academy of Sport.

Through seamless multidisciplinary collaboration, we design places that perform at the highest level – inside and out – to create long-lasting value for everyone.

See what WSP can offer as a partner for major sporting and cultural events and venues for a community to thrive – click to explore what’s possible.

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