- Leading national firms ARM Architecture and NH Architecture in partnership with Queensland’s Arkhefield selected to design the National Aquatic Centre for the 2032 Games and beyond.
- The National Aquatic Centre will deliver an iconic swimming and water sports hub for high-performance athletes and a legacy for community use beyond 2032.
- Two builders to be shortlisted within weeks and works to begin from September when GIICA takes possession of the site.
- The Games are back on track after 1,200 days of Labor chaos.
To mark six years to go until the 2032 Games, the Crisafulli Government has unveiled the vision for Australia’s new swimming centrepiece, appointing a powerhouse design team and shortlisting builders to bring the National Aquatic Centre to life for the 2032 Games and beyond.
ARM Architecture and NH Architecture and in partnership with Queensland’s Arkhefield will help deliver an iconic swimming and water sports centre that will host the world’s best aquatic athletes in 2032, and be a world-class facility and high-performance hub for Australia’s future super fish.
Embracing Centenary Pool’s heritage listed structures, the National Aquatic Centre will also feature a main and secondary arena, each with large pools to support elite training and competitions.
With a roofline reflecting water and wind, the National Aquatic Centre will feature new pools, a gym, high-performance and office spaces, complementing the existing outdoor pools and amenities of the heritage-listed Centenary Pool.
ARM delivered Perth’s RAC Arena and the redevelopment of Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall, while NH Architecture reimagined and delivered Melbourne Park, widely recognised as one of the nation’s best sport and entertainment precincts. Arkhefield is behind South Bank’s River Quay quarter and the current Waterfront Brisbane development.
The partnership also includes aquatic architecture specialists Liquid Blu, the Queensland design company behind the Yeppoon Lagoon and Pavilion, Palm Beach Aquatic and Community Centre and the Gympie Aquatic Recreation Centre among others.
Following years of mismanagement and indecision under Labor, the Games remain back on track.
The Games Independent Infrastructure Construction Authority is also forging ahead with the procurement process to select the National Aquatic Centre’s builder, with four building contractors shortlisted to submit offers, which will close at the end of this month.
This will be further shortlisted to two builders within weeks, allowing GIICA to move to the next phase of assessment and planning, with the final builder to be selected by early 2027.
GIICA will take possession of Centenary Pool on 1 September 2026, to begin early works to prepare the site for construction.
Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was delivering for 2032 and beyond.
“In six years time, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming to Queensland, and we will be ready,” Premier Crisafulli said.
“The eyes of the world will be on us in 2032, but this is about delivering legacy benefits for all of Queensland well beyond that.
“The Centenary Pool is a proud part of Queensland’s swimming history and as a centrepiece for the action during 2032, that history will be strengthened into the future.”
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the Crisafulli Government was ensuring the Games remained back on track.
“This design trio will develop an iconic new home for high performance aquatic athletes, as well as a legacy for community sport,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said
“This isn’t just a venue for a few weeks in 2032, it’s a lasting investment in Queensland’s future that will support community sport, high-performance athletes and keeping us cool for generations to come.
“After 1,200 days of Games Labor chaos, by running procurement processes for the designer and the builder effectively in parallel, we can get on with the job of keeping the Games on track and delivering an incredible National Aquatic Centre that Queenslanders can be proud of.”
GIICA Chairman Stephen Conry AM chaired the Design Evaluation Panel and said the quality of design submissions had been outstanding.
“Ultimately, it was ARM Architecture, NH Architecture and Arkhefield’s design for a Centre inspired by the movement of water, cleverly positioned into the landscape, that we felt best reflected the natural beauty of Brisbane,” Mr Conry said.
“GIICA is committed to delivering transformational infrastructure that will benefit Queenslanders for generations, and I am confident the National Aquatic Centre and new Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park will be outstanding landmarks for our city and among our most popular public spaces.”
Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse said today represented an important milestone on the path to Brisbane 2032 and the legacy that extends well beyond the Games.
“The National Aquatic Centre will deliver long term benefits for Australia’s aquatic sports and the community as a world-leading venue capable of supporting major aquatics events and high-performance training alongside community access year-round,” Mr Woodhouse said.
“We look forward to working closely with the Principal Architects and GIICA through the detailed design phase and again extend our thanks to the Queensland and Australian Governments for their commitment to the National Aquatic Centre and its legacy.”
ARM Architecture Director Andrew Hayne is leading the architect partnership and said the design’s strong connection to water makes it undeniably Queensland.
“Queenslanders have a real connection to the water. The rippling plinth and floating roof reflect the movement of water, but the design is ultimately about place and is shaped by Brisbane’s landscape, subtropical climate and natural environment,” Mr Hayne said.
NH Architecture Director Emily Kilvington described the design as a world-class venue that connects people with nature while delivering an exceptional Games and community experience.
“New state-of-the-art facilities shows real respect for the site’s history while positioning Queensland at the forefront of aquatic sport infrastructure,” said Ms Kilvington.
Arkhefield Founding Director Andrew Gutteridge grew up swimming at Centenary Pool and said the project will serve Queenslanders long after the 2032 Games have ended.
“Hosting the Olympics and Paralympics gives us the chance to build something truly extraordinary, a place where Queenslanders can swim, train and connect with each other for decades to come,” Mr Gutteridge said.
