Architecture for the Athlete: The Complete Journey
Allianz Stadium
Following the success of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the world’s attention is now moving to Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. Whilst the plans for Los Angeles are well underway with the utilisation of many existing venues, Brisbane’s journey is only just beginning. With eight years until Brisbane 2032, what can the city learn about the ‘New Norm’ as it begins to deliver the venues for the Games?
Certainly, one of the lessons from Paris is how to design an ‘athletes first’ experience, one that showcases the city as well as prioritises performance and recovery on the world stage.
Unique Challenges of Designing for Peak Performers
Elite athletes and Olympians have unique physical, psychological, and logistical needs. When designing venues, amenities, facilities, and accommodation, we must consider not only physical spaces but also the psychological and emotional demands placed on athletes. These elite performers face immense pressure on the world’s grandest stage, with the weight of national pride on their shoulders.
COX surveyed athletes and officials from Cricket NSW, the Australian Women’s Hockey Team, the NSW Waratahs, and Rugby NSW to hear firsthand how venue design influences their experiences. Nick Larkin, a cricketer for Cricket NSW, highlighted the need for a ‘one-stop shop’ that minimises commuting between venues and facilities.
Drawing on insights from Paris 2024 and our over 45 years of experience, we discuss the key considerations and ideas behind designing ‘for the athlete.’
(both) NSW Rugby Centre of Excellence (Photography: Martin Mischkulnig)
The Entire Athlete Experience: A Holistic Approach
The athlete’s journey extends beyond competition. Housing, transport, training, recovery, and even the atmosphere can affect their performance. Our survey found that the ‘spaciousness and seamless flow’ of facilities, especially in locker and recovery areas, were top features that influenced the athlete experience. This emphasises the importance of peripheral spaces, not just main venues, to help athletes focus without distractions.
This is an opportunity to set a new global standard for athlete-focused design that can influence future Olympic Games and major sporting events.
The Athletes Village: More than a Place to Sleep
The Athletes Village plays a vital role beyond providing a place to rest. Poorly designed villages can hinder performance, as demonstrated by complaints of inadequate sleeping conditions during Paris’s heat wave. Italian swimmer Thomas Ceccon was infamously seen sleeping in the park, and subsequently blamed subpar sleeping conditions in the Paris 2024 Athletes Village for his poor performance.
Beyond climate control, Olympic Villages need to offer high-quality nutrition and ample recovery facilities. Feeding over 15,000 athletes is a monumental task, and forward planning is crucial. The Paris 2024 Committee’s effort to promote seasonal produce, limit waste, and reduce animal proteins led to athletes demanding more substantial portions of meat and eggs, with some even opting to eat outside of the Village as a response. This highlights the need to cater to their intense nutritional requirements and tests the balancing of sustainability versus athletes’ needs.
Minimising the Strain of Mobility Between Venues
Transportation is a critical part of the athlete experience. Athletes can spend hours each day shuttling between venues for training, competition, medical services, and recovery.
Recently, severe shuttle delays in Paris caused some athletes to seek accommodation closer to their venues, while others compared their transport experience to a ‘sauna’ due to poor air conditioning. These logistical challenges hinder athletes’ ability to perform at their peak as they grapple with increased stress, and reduced time available for rest and recovery.
Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (Photography: Patrick Bingham-Hall)
Technical Venue Design for Peak Performance
The design and technical aspects of competition venues directly influence athlete performance. The depth of the pool in Paris—measured at just 2.15 metres—was blamed for the lack of world record-breaking performances in swimming, as shallow water increases turbulence and hinders speed. By contrast, deeper pools, as recommended by World Aquatics, reduce water turbulence, and offer optimal conditions for elite swimmers.
Other seemingly small details such as the pool’s water temperature and deck temperature can make all the difference. Olympic swimming pools must be between 25°C and 28°C, as this temperature allows athletes to exert themselves without overheating and allows them to better regulate their body temperature.
These technical details were integral to the design of the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, famously known as the ‘Pool of Dreams’ through the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials. The pool’s attention to key technical factors, such as optimal water depth, wider lanes, and precise temperature control, played a significant role in facilitating record-breaking performances.
Similarly, track and field surfaces, lighting, and acoustics play crucial roles in performance. These same principles were used to design the tracks inside Anna Meares Velodrome, which boasts a gradient of 43.9 degrees and an ability to maintain speeds of 85km/hour. The Brisbane climate and design of the velodrome combine to create arguably the fastest track in the world.
[Left] Anna Meares Velodrome (Photographer: Bruce J Wilson). [Right] Queensland Country Bank Stadium (photographer: Andrew Rankin)
Amenities: Balancing Premium with Practicality
Brisbane’s subtropical climate requires venues to manage heat, humidity, and torrential rains. Creating micro-climates within the venue further enhances comfort and supports optimal temperature regulation. Venues should also consider retractable roofs, advanced HVAC systems, and weatherproof amenities to ensure athletes are comfortable and safe regardless of the conditions.
The Queensland Country Bank Stadium’s (QCBS) open-ended bowl invites the prevailing afternoon breezes, whilst the roof structure is fitted with a membrane to protect spectators from Townsville’s intense heat. In a first for Australian stadia, the Ken Rosewall Arena’s cable tension polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fabric roof provides full coverage for play in all conditions. AAMI Park Stadium features a ‘bioframe’ design with a geodesic dome roof that substantially covers the seating areas while still allowing light through.
As global temperatures rise, and extreme weather events become more common, these venues that incorporate advanced climate control technologies are a good example of how to mitigate these impacts.
The environment in which athletes train and compete significantly impacts their performance and well-being. High-quality amenities—such as optimal playing surfaces, dedicated warm-up and recovery areas, spacious lockers, efficient circulation, and modern physiotherapy rooms—are essential for enhancing both physical performance and mental health. Venues should also prioritise Universal Design to ensure equitable access and inclusion for all users, and not just meeting basic requirements.
[Left]Ken Rosewall Arena (Photography:Martin Michkulnig). [Right] AAMI Park (Photographer: Dianna Snape)
Energising Venues: Atmosphere Matters
A ‘full-house atmosphere,’ where fans are close to the action and acoustics enhance crowd noise, can lift athletes to new heights. Ex-footballers have emphasised the importance of atmosphere, especially for players who are easily intimidated. Some also find new stadia sterile compared to the gritty appeal of older grounds.
Stadia with good acoustics, unobstructed views, and intimate seating arrangements can amplify the energy of the crowd, creating a powerful, motivating environment for athletes.
The roof design of Allianz Stadium allows it to reflect noise back into the venue, intentionally creating an intense atmosphere that drives athletes to excel. It also covers 100% of the seats, with the strategic arrangement of the stands creating a sea of faces with great views of the playing field.
[Both] Allianz Stadium (Photography: Christopher Frederick Jones)
A Legacy of Beyond the Podium
Brisbane 2032 offers the opportunity to redefine athlete-focused architecture. By prioritising a holistic design across venues, transport, and amenities, Brisbane can raise the bar of what the ‘New Norm’ really means, leaving an enviable legacy within the Olympics timeline.