IOC, IPC and IAKS present international architecture prize for sustainable, accessible and innovative sports and leisure facilities
At the festive gala on 24 October 2023, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) are presenting the much-coveted awards for exemplary sports and leisure architecture.
At the ceremony, distinguished personalities from architecture, management and sport will come together to honour facilities that set new standards in sports and leisure facilities. A total of eleven projects in five categories will receive the IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize. Two student projects representing the future of sports architecture will be recognized for their originality and inventiveness. In addition, two Public Choice Awards will be presented for the first time.
The jury had their hands full, with 88 competition entries from 22 different countries, including Australia, Germany and Canada, although projects with exceptional design and functionality were also submitted from Nepal, Thailand and Brazil.
photo credit: Koelnmesse Uwe Weiser
Notable successes
Skanderborg City Bath, credit: Ulf Elbrond
It is a remarkable fact that this year almost half of the award-winning projects are associated with the theme of "water" in any aggregate state, be it as a sports space as such or due to its topographical location.
Canada occupies a leading position in terms of the number of award winners. A total of six award-winning sports and leisure facilities can be found there, including several community centres, an ice rink, an urban park and a rowing centre.
Canadian architects MJMA are being commended in two categories for projects in their home country, namely for the Churchill Meadows Community Centre and, in cooperation with Raimondo + Associates Architects, for the Neil Campbell Rowing Centre.
This year, the jury selected many inspiring projects that generate value for local communities – an important issue in the world of sport that also reflects the theme of the IAKS Congress: “Building resilient communities through sports and leisure facilities”.
Category „Community outdoor grounds and public areas“
Rainbow Park, Vancouver Canada, credits: Brett Ryan Studios)
- SFU Stadium, Burnaby, Canada
Architect: Perkins and Will
Operator: Simon Fraser University
- Skanderborg City Baths, Skanderborg, Denmark
Architect: Spektrum Arkitekter
Operator: Skanderborg Kommunes Biblioteker
- Rainbow Park, Vancouver, Canada
Architect: DIALOG
Operator: Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Category „Indoor facilities for sports, leisure and recreation“
Ravelin Sports Centre, Portsmouth, United Kingdom, credits: Hufton+Crow
- Churchill Meadows Community Centre, Mississauga, Canada
Architect: MJMA Architecture & Design
Operator: City of Mississauga
- Ravelin Sports Centre, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Architect: FaulknerBrowns Architects
Operator: University of Portsmouth
- Centre De Glaces Intact Assurance, Québec, Canada
Architect: Lemay
Operator: Corporation de gestion du Centre de Glaces de Québec
Category „Pools, spas and wellness facilities“
Architect: KRIEGER Architekten | Ingenieure with Wimreiter & Partner
Operator: Silvrettaseilbahn
- Maple Ridge Leisure Centre Expansion, Maple Ridge, Canada
Architect: SHAPE Architecture
Operator: City of Maple Ridge
Category „Specialised facilities for sports, leisure and recreation“
Maritime Center, Esbjerg, Denmark, credits: Wichmann + Bendtsen Photography
- Maritime Center, Esbjerg, Denmark
Architect: Werk Arkitekter with Snøhetta Arkitektur
Operator: Esbjerg Municipality
- Neil Campbell Rowing Centre, St. Catharines, Canada
Architect: MJMA Architecture & Design with Raimondo + Associates Architects
Operator: Canadian Henley Rowing Corporation
Category „Major outdoor stadiums“
photo credits: Taisei Corporation, Azusa Sekkei Co.,Ltd., and Kengo Kuma and Associates Joint Venture
- Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Architect: TAISEI DESIGN Planners Architects & Engineers with AZUSA SEKKEI and with Kengo Kuma & Associates
Operator: Japan Sport Council
International interest in the young talents architecture award
photo: Koelnmesse Uwe Weiser
A total of 13 interesting designs and concepts were submitted from all over the world, including China, Germany, Norway and Poland. The jury is presenting two awards to projects in Canada and Ireland.
The winners of the “2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals” are:
- The Entwine, Canada
Design: Kaamil Allah Baksh
- Between Borders, Ireland
Design: Cian O’Mahony
Public Choice Award enjoys great response
photo: Koelnmesse Uwe Weiser
For the first time in the history of the IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize, a Public Choice Award is being presented. Both completed projects – ranging from small trend sports facilities to large stadiums, indoors, outdoors and in the water – as well as the newcomer designs were up for selection.
The professional public had the chance to nominate a top candidate in each of the categories by 30 September 2023.
The winner of the Public Choice Award of the 2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize for sustainable, accessible and innovative sports and leisure facilities is:
- Quintal do Ban, Campinas, Brazil
Architect: Effect Arquitetura & VMOffice
Operator: Ancar Ivanhoe – Shopping Parque das Bandeiras
The winner of the Public Choice Award of the “2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals” is:
- Rio Rimac Sports & Recreation Center, Peru
Design: Carlos Amed Carrillo Aguilar and Jorge Luis Castillo Tomás
This year's winners in the media
Read more about the 2023 winning projects in sb magazine 5/2023 including comprehensive photo material, project description, plans, and the jury verdicts.
Watch the project videos of the prize winning facilities
flip through the ceremony's picture gallery
