Inclusive community hub enables swimming in a park setting

Parramatta Aquatic Centre in Western Sydney

published in sb magazine 3/2024
 

At the new Parramatta Aquatic Centre, the circular design makes the outdoor 50-metre pool the centrepiece of the facility. The pool reinvents the traditional aquatic centre typology. Grimshaw led the design partnership with Andrew Burges Architects (ABA) and McGregor Coxall as land­scape architect. The design was selected thanks to exceptional operational aspects, the gener­osity of space contributing to the user experience and the integration of the scheme into the park.

The new Parramatta Aquatic Centre (PAC) is located at Mays Hill, the traditional lands of the Burramattagal, an inland group of the Dharug people. The PAC is in Parramatta Park, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and is situated in a distinct landscape concept which acknowledges the site’s historical vocation as a gathering place. It is situated on part of what was once a golf course. The idea of the new centre was to balance the social impact of the development of Parramatta, deliver a positive impact for the community with a space that improves urban vitality, and bring many people together in a place of inclusivity and accessibility.