Continuing to exceed expectations, the Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre (AFAC) has taken out the Social and Community Infrastructure Award at the 2020 National Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) awards. The ceremony was held by virtual broadcast from Sydney on 12 May.
Mayor Ruth Butterfield said the latest award is a testament to the innovative and high quality design of the facility.
“Visitors are welcomed by the striking architecture, offset against the bushland setting. It’s an impressive facility which has proven extremely popular with our community.”
The National Award for Excellence recognises AFAC as a Social and Community asset. There was strong competition from the other finalists in the category - Arcadis, Healthscope & CPB Contractors for the Northern Beaches Hospital (NSW); Halikos Constructions for the Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School (NT); City of Mitcham for the Mitchum Memorial Library and Brown Hill Creek Project (SA) and Newland Developers for the Mandalay (VIC).
“Its design, broad range of uses, value for money, attractive parklands, children’s playground, along with sustainability features, are hard to beat,” said the Mayor. “Heating and cooling through the use of large sliding doors is augmented by the development of a geothermal bore, not only providing significant cost savings, but ensuring that the aquatic centre is able to be used all year round.”
The judges were particularly impressed by the community’s ready response and noted that affordability of pool membership arrangements has resulted in a dramatic increase in patronage with engagement far exceeding expectations.