In a fitting commemoration of our College’s 100-year celebrations in 2016, Pymble has completed a significant new capital works project. Known as the Centenary Sports Precinct, it establishes our new aquatic and fitness centre and learn-to-swim pool, and redeveloped Mollie Dive Field to provide extensive underground parking.
Aligned with our Towards 2020 vision, these new facilities enable us to expand and enhance the quality and delivery of our fitness and well-being programs for decades to come. A century ago, our founding Principal, Dr John Marden, strongly believed health and well-being were vital to every girl reaching her potential. He was an educator and leader ahead of his time, and this project, in part, honours his vision.
Pymble prides itself on balancing excellence in academics, sports and the arts. While the Pymble community extends far beyond our gates, investment in our College continues to provide our students, staff and alumni with an important sense of place.
To design the Centenary Sports Precinct, we undertook an extensive consultative process, drawing on sustainable design principles to create world-class facilities.
The Centenary Sports Precinct includes the following:
- 50m heated indoor eight-lane swimming pool with multiple diving platforms
- large purpose-built learn-to-swim pool
- multi-purpose fitness centre, incorporating strength and conditioning facilities and consultation and remedial treatment rooms
- additional change rooms and on-deck showers
- underground car park for approximately 230 vehicles
- new playing field (Mollie Dive Field) for hockey and tennis programs
- Centenary Walkway.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a focus we pursue with rigorous and disciplined intent. High-level sustainability management practice and infrastructure is embedded in the development of the Centenary Sports Precinct, in alignment with our Towards 2020 strategic vision. This includes:
- Heat-recovery systems reduce air-conditioning loads by pre-heating the outside air introduced to the facility with the exhaust air.
- Jet fans provide assisted natural ventilation to the carpark and are operated to maintain air quality, resulting in reduced operating energy.
- A combined heating system for the pool and domestic hot water systems results in reduced equipment and increased efficiency.
- High-efficiency electric heat pumps for heating of the pool hall air reduce overall energy requirements.
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels provide electricity to the precinct, offsetting energy used by lighting, pool filtration equipment and pool air heating systems.
- High-performance double glazing helps to reduce air conditioning loads.
- Pool covers reduce heating costs and minimise evaporation, reducing replacement water costs.