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2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize winners revealed

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.

IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize 2023_credit Koelnmesse Uwe Weiser (33) square

photo credit: Koelnmesse Uwe Weiser

Notable successes

Skanderborg City Bath_ photo credit Ulf Elbrond.jpg

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”.

Winners of the 2023 IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize are:

Category „Community outdoor grounds and public areas“

Rainbow Park_7_Toddler Play Area_Brett Hitchins (Brett Ryan Studios)_650

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“

(17) Ravelin Sports Centre - FaulknerBrowns Architects - ©Hufton+Crow_650

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_ADJI_0045_Wichmann + Bendtsen Photography

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“

Japan National Stadium_012_1_0558credits Taisei Corporation Azusa Sekkei Kengo Kuma and Associates

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

IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize 2023_credit Koelnmesse Uwe Weiser (9)_650.jpg

photo: Koelnmesse Uwe Weiser

In addition, the IOC, IPC and IAKS are presenting the Architecture and Design Award for Students and Young Professionals, recognizing innovative designs and strategies for sports and leisure facilities. This competition is a great platform and targets young architects, landscape architects and designers who are still studying, or fresh professionals who are in the first years of their careers. It encourages approaches by architects and designers that want to create architectural spaces for an active lifestyle.

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

IOC IPC IAKS Architecture Prize 2023_credit Koelnmesse Uwe Weiser (12)_650

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