The new 8390-square-metre OPLC by WAM sits adjacent to both the Council Administration Building and Public Library in Oran Park’s civic centre and places ‘sports on display’ across the lively hub.

It includes an aquatic zone comprising a 50-metre, eight-lane swimming pool, leisure pool with a lazy river feature – inspired by the original Oran Park Raceway and now fondly referred to as the Rapid River – and toddler splash pool. It also boasts four full-size indoor basketball courts as well as a gymnasium with training equipment and a variety of group fitness spaces.

WAM Associate Principal, Claire Matheson, says designing the recreational centre in the heart of the flourishing south-western Sydney suburb presented a rare opportunity to help shape a new urban experience: “This historic part of New South Wales was formerly farmland but is quickly transforming into a vibrant, culturally diverse community, which includes many first-time home owners and young families.

“The design brief gave us the unique opportunity to envelope three sporting activities within the heart of Oran Park. Our design theme of ‘sports on display’ perfectly aligns with Camden Council’s desire to promote the importance of physical activity.”

Matheson says the new OPLC intentionally frames the civic square, making both a physical statement and creating an ideal place for public gatherings and celebrations: “The strength of both the centre and its offering is the role it can play as a connector. The sporting facilities are easily seen from the plaza, pedestrian’s paths and streets to draw the community in.”

The centre also includes a separate sauna, steam room, spa, a gym retail facility and 155-space car park in its basement. A café offering a healthy and extensive menu will also enhance the broader experience and provide another point of connection for all visitors and users.  

“Staff from the council offices, library and the shopping centre – including future ‘Eat Street’ and Perich Park opposite – can access the café alongside users from the gym, courts area and aquatic centre. It’s a conduit for community connection whilst also supporting the business case for the centre.”

Matheson continues: “It’s a pleasure to design a place that responds to such a strong need. The excitement ahead of opening was palpable, which was highlighted by Brad Grove of the Wheelaroos (Australia’s Wheelchair Rugby League Team), who noted that he and many of his team-mates had previously driven at least an hour to train due to the lack of local facilities. We also understand that around 1500 children signed up for the Learn to Swim program during the opening weekend.”

Related: WAM’s work on the wider site at One Queen Street

WAM Senior Associate and Interior Designer, David Hoad, says the internal design of the OPLC reflects another key requirement of the design brief in that the centre must feel ‘open for all’: “A strong theme that came directly from consulting with stakeholder groups was for the leisure centre to welcome people of all backgrounds and physical capability. This has been realised through our three core design pillars for this project of ‘Inclusivity’, ‘Placemaking’ and ‘Family-orientated’, which prioritise accessibility and creating different spaces and moments to connect within.

“If the foyer is the ‘beating heart’ of the OPLC, the organic forms circulating it provide intuitive wayfinding – employing soft edges and fluid delineation to remove a sense of boundaries and act as an invitation to explore. The goal is for the centre to be welcoming and ultimately gives all facets of the community a sense of ownership… We set out to create an immediate visual connection between the ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ sports zones to drive curiosity and encourage the cross-pollination of users. Each zone is coloured to create differentiation but a connection is clear.”

Matheson says sustainable design has also been a guiding consideration: “We’ve placed priority on making the most of natural daylighting to all areas of the facility on the recognition that natural light promotes a healthier environment and is fundamental to our experience of a space. We have employed various skylights techniques including ETFE – a durable, highly transparent, more sustainable and lightweight alternative to glass. Other key sustainability initiatives include 300Kw of photovoltaic solar panels and best practice mechanical design.”

Description provided by designers.

WAM
wam.studio

Photography
Tom Roe

Read about WAM’s brand refresh here