The South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) is preparing to open the doors to its new almost $90m state-of-the-art facility in August 2024, with the project build reaching the halfway mark.
Since construction commenced in March this year, building contractor Hansen Yuncken has completed in-ground services, piling works and concrete pours for all three floors.
Works still to come in 2024 include structural steel and curtain wall installation, cladding façade and roof installation, internal fit-out finishes and car park/external works.
The Malinauskas Government invested $68 million towards the Mile End development, providing a world-class sport, research, and education hub to high-performance athletes and students.
Project partner UniSA has contributed a further $20 million for capital costs, which will see the UniSA Sports Science Hub built on the second floor, with high-performance sports science laboratories and teaching spaces for students undertaking a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The building design (led by COX Architecture) will promote greater talent identification, pathways for aspiring athletes and education opportunities through nation-leading high-performance spaces, including:
- Strength and conditioning gym, fit with 60 metres, three-lane synthetic turf testing space and anti-gravity treadmill.
- Environmental chamber for athlete testing under a range of temperature, hypoxic and humidity conditions.
- Full-sized indoor sprung timber court and half-court movement studio, designed for instant performance analysis under individual and team modes.
- Ergometer training space, home to the SASI rowing and canoe/kayak programs.
- Physiology laboratory and athlete health rooms, fit out for our allied health partners.
- Athlete recovery centre, complete with athlete nutrition zone.
- Biomechanics and exercise physiology laboratories fit for our allied health partners and for students to learn about the role of forces in movement and physiological responses to exercise and training.
The new SASI is co-located at Mile End with the Australian Centre for Sports Aerodynamics (opening in early 2024), SA Athletics Stadium and Netball SA Stadium, creating one of the best high-performance sports precincts right on the doorstep of Adelaide’s CBD.
Ahead of the move to the new building, SASI has also launched its rebrand featuring an innovative logo, striking brand identity and dynamic colour palette, representing the organisation’s bold new direction.
The evolved brand will be showcased throughout the new SASI building.
As put by Katrine Hildyard
This investment will deliver a world-class facility for our state. It brings together key pieces of sporting infrastructure and creates a hub that will support athletes to develop their high-performance potential and attract national and international teams to Adelaide in their preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics.
In the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Games and beyond, the new SASI facility will keep South Australia at the forefront of sports performance and research, supporting the work of staff and athletes, and empowering even more young athletes to chase their sporting dreams.
When South Australian athletes perform at the highest level, future generations are inspired, and we see an increase in participation in sports and other physical activity – this is so important in improving the mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people and to them feeling the wonderful sense of belonging that sport brings.
I am so proud of our Government’s commitment to bringing this world-class facility to life – and of the impact it will have for generations to come.
As put by UniSA Professor Jon Buckley, Executive Dean: UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance Academic Unit
UniSA is pleased to partner with SASI on this outstanding facility for the State. It will better prepare high-performing athletes, and the future workforce to support them, delivering significant benefits to sports teaching, research and industry collaboration.
We look forward to seeing the UniSA Sports Science Hub take shape, with its state-of-the-art laboratories and innovative teaching and research areas.
As put by Hansen Yuncken State Manger, Mark Rosenboom
Hansen Yuncken are delighted to be partnering with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport, Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing and UniSA in delivering the distinctive vision of the new SASI Project.
With the concrete structure now completed, work now turns to the installation of roofing and facade ahead of fit-out of internal finishes and specialised services for what will be a state-of-the-art sports facility.
As put by COX Architecture Director Adam Hannon
We are delighted by the opportunity to work in collaboration with the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing, SASI and UniSA on this new benchmark facility for high-performance sport, training and research.
As put by COX Architecture Director Zoë King
This project will greatly enhance the Mile End sporting precinct, providing a gateway to the city that showcases sporting excellence.
