Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre
The redevelopment of Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre aligns with the Darebin City Council’s ambitious sustainability strategy.
Darebin was the first government in the world to declare a climate emergency and is committing to taking action to achieve a long-term vision for net-zero emissions.
The Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre targets 6-Star Green Star certification and is Victoria’s first fully electric aquatic center. To achieve this, Introba (formerly Integral Group) designed heating and cooling for the facility eliminating the need for gas or other fossil fuels, powered, in part, by a large solar array. The design integrates energy storage into the thermal systems and heat recovery in all ventilation systems.
The facility will use recycled rain and greywater on-site and provide electric vehicle charging for visitors. This system will be fully integrated into a beautiful architectural design using timber for the primary structure in the pool halls and other areas.
Balancing the costs of an electric facility presented a unique challenge for this project. Through robust analysis, the design team could show that incurring the capital cost of electrification now would reduce energy costs and carbon emissions over time.
Introba is providing electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, fire protection, and audio-visual services for the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
Sustainability
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Green Star: 6-Star Design and As-Built V1.3 Target
Image Credit: Warren and Mahoney Architects