Expert Circles | IAKS Worldwide

Mission and intent of the IAKS Expert Circles

IAKS members are professionals who represent all aspects of active living. Many members are associated with a specific area of expertise or interest in the broad range of sports and leisure facilities. These include ownership (public and private sector), operations, planning and design, construction, equipment, and specialized sports finishes. The focus of members ranges from community-scaled facilities and programs to professional multipurpose venues for internationals events and competitions.

IAKS has established the IAKS Expert Circles as an international forum for the discussion of specific issues, trends and expectations relative to the respective area of interest. The IAKS recognizes that while there is a shared vision of the purpose and expectations of sports and leisure facilities, this is often regional or national in its reach and often is not part of an international conversation. The ultimate intent of the IAKS Expert Circles is to provide a transfer of knowledge at planning, technical, and operating requirements for the specific area of interest.

Swimming Pool Expert Circle

2019 03 - pool expert circle - meeting in Malmo - group in front of Hylliebadet

Expert Circle "Swimming Pool" at 4th meeting in Sweden in March 2019
photo: IAKS

Leader: Dr Stefan Kannewischer (Kannewischer Management AG)

Founded: June 2017

Based on the exchange of knowledge throughout their meetings, the pool experts have compiled the “IAKS Future Trends for Pools”. The future trends outline important developments for professionals and non-professionals such as inclusivity, places for socialising, competing demands on public finances and digital transformation, and many more.

The experts meet once or twice a year to discuss country-specific aspects from technical issues to visitor behaviour. How are pool projects successfully implemented? How can targets be achieved across the entire pool lifecycle?

Sports Hall Expert Circle

Leader: Karin Schwarz-Viechtbauer (OEISS) and Harald Fux (Raumkunst)

Founded: April 2019

The Sports Hall Expert Circle is dedicated to discuss:

How much standardisation do sports halls need?
How suited at all is the standard sports hall to modern needs?
What risks and opportunities does standardisation offer?
The development of modern modules for usage patterns and spatial qualities as well as their implementation in decision-making processes and planning procedures is necessary.

There is a clear need for adaptable, modularised and mobilised exercise spaces that are in the right balance with standard sports halls. Since there is a direct correspondence between the individual’s experience of exercise and the exercise space, attractive and modern models for exercise spaces and sports halls must be created, both in terms of sports function and design.

Expert Circle Sports Halls_meeting on 20190426_Bernard Kössler Hamburger Sportbund 650.jpg

Expert Circle "Sports Halls" at first meeting in Austria in April 2019
photo: Hamburger Sportbund

from left to right: Klaus Meinel, Karin Schwarz-Viechtbauer, Bernard Kössler, Flemming Overgaard, Roger Gut, Harald Fux, Jürgen Widler

Ice Rinks Expert Circle

2019 Expert Circle Ice Rinks_Inaugural meeting

Leader: Mark Hentze (HDR Architects Inc.)
Founded: November 2019

The Ice Rinks Expert Circle gathers international experts who design, supply, install and operate ice facilities either permanent or temporary.

The participants identified differences between North American and European approaches. The development of ice facilities in North American and especially Canada is a vital part of the sports and recreation experience. As part of strategy for programming and operational efficiency, there is a tendency to building double pads as a minimum with triple and quadruple pads gaining in popularity. In Europe however, there is very little development of community arenas driven by programmes. Instead, there is typically some level of spectator seating so the facilities tend to offer both sports programmes and ticketed sports events. There is a fundamental difference between European and North American approaches with Europeans using a direct refrigeration system, while North Americans use an indirect one.