Hiwa, Recreation Centre

MJMA's competition-winning design, submitted with local architects Warren and Mahoney, revitalizes a precinct of the university campus in the heart of the city of Auckland. It provides much-needed infrastructure and over 22,000m2 of programming that will prepare students for a lifetime of health and wellness.

The tight urban site necessitated a 9-storey structure. The bulk of the building is nonetheless dematerialized by its shaped base and a cladding of stainless- steel panels and louvres that mitigate glare and heat gain inside the facility while capturing reflections of the dramatic, ever-shifting Aukland weather. To maintain a sense of vibrancy and openness despite the dense programming, the plan is split: a major program volume occurs at each level and is alternated on either side of a central fitness core, increasing security and ease of wayfinding and allowing views and access across key spaces and levels to spark user interest and participation.