The University of Auckland Hiwa Recreation Centre

The University of Auckland’s Hiwa Recreation Centre is a modern facility with seven levels dedicated to various fitness activities. This state-of-the-art building includes gym spaces, sports halls (such as basketball courts), running tracks, a swimming pool, and a rooftop turf area. It provides ample spaces for students to socialise and relax. This multifunctional facility was designed to meet the diverse needs of the university community, fostering a vibrant and accessible environment for fitness, recreation, and leisure. 

The building has a comprehensive fire safety system, an automatic sprinkler system throughout the entire structure, and smoke detection in all areas except the car parks. Aspirating smoke detection systems have been installed in the sports halls on Levels 2 and 3 and in the aquatics hall located in Basement 1, while point smoke detection is used in the other areas. The design includes two main staircases connecting Level 0 to Level 6, each equipped with hydrants and additional staircases throughout the building. The building has an occupant load designed to ensure sufficient student and staff capacity. 

Although the safe path stairs remain open, they are equipped with fire shutters and curtains that can close off the space in case of a fire alarm, maintaining safety and an open, welcoming atmosphere throughout the building. The placement of fire shutters and curtains is strategically designed to uphold the building's open feel while providing essential fire safety protection. The sports halls on Levels 2 and 3 are also equipped with a smoke extraction system to enhance fire safety further.

Jensen Hughes was engaged as the fire safety engineer for this project, providing services such as an enabling works assessment, which evaluated how the new building would affect the fire safety of surrounding University of Auckland buildings. A fire engineering design was created using the C/VM2 Verification Method (Amendment 5) in compliance with Section 17 of the New Zealand Building Act for Building Consent. Pathfinder software was utilised for the egress assessment. At the same time, FDS and B-Risk were employed for the tenability assessment, which included evaluations of Available Safe Egress Time (ASET) versus Required Safe Egress Time (RSET). The project's complexity required thorough construction monitoring. Fieldwire software was effectively used to track and document defects throughout the construction process, ensuring that all fire safety requirements and standards were met.

By collaborating with our partners, Colliers and the University of Auckland, we have assisted in creating a functional and compliant building. Detailed fire engineering design, comprehensive assessments, and ongoing construction monitoring have been essential in meeting the highest fire safety standards, creating a dynamic space for students and staff to enjoy for years to come.