The opportunity to provide a sporting complex to enhance sports and training programs for John Paul College (JPC) students and provide facilities for competitions and tournaments was identified in Deicke Richards’ Master Plan for the school completed in 2019.
Deicke Richards were the lead consultant in the design, documentation and delivery of the Jukambi Sports Precinct. On behalf of JPC, DR coordinated input from secondary consultants and advice from a representative at Tennis QLD to further administer the construction process.
The design contributes to JPC’s aim to strive for sporting excellence, providing six competition grade open tennis courts, two hot shot courts, and two multi-purpose courts. The project is enhanced by the use of Glue Laminated Timber columns and beams to support an expansive roof, providing generous shade to the multi-purpose courts, spectator seating and amenities block.
The soaring roof touches the earth lightly with slender glue laminated timber rather than steel. The main covered courts and amenities building are designed using passive environmental design strategies.
John Paul College sits within an important traditional landscape. The college acknowledges the traditional owners, the Turrbal, Jagera, and Yugambeh people who have moved through the land the college now stands upon. The school students of John Paul College are drawn from these language group areas as well. Sustainable occupation of place is an important value of traditional owners. Ensuring the project achieves sustainable outcomes is essential to respect ongoing stewardship of the John Paul College site.
The design of this project reflects JPC’s commitment to these histories and cultures, and the design has been inspired by the indigenous heritage of the area, including the eagle, plants, landscape and the importance of sustainability in our future.
The covered courts and tennis courts are located close to the intersection of Chatswood Road and John Paul and within 100m of bus stops on these streets. This proximity to public and active transport links supports not only the student population of JPC but also visiting players and potential future operators of these sporting facilities.
The main covered courts and amenities building are both designed using passive environmental design strategies such as significant roof overhangs, cross ventilation, and adequate insulation.
The main court roof has 5m overhangs providing deep shade to the courts and reduced heat reflection. The roof form maximises air movement across the courts with the added benefit of reducing acoustic reverberation.
The amenities building has a significant western overhang and is further protected from the north and east by the main covered court roof and adjoining storage spaces. Individual change rooms are accessed off a shared breezeway that aids air circulation around these facilities.
The project achieves JPC’s vision of a sporting precinct that, while expansive, treads lightly on the site, and integrates into the existing site topography and pays respects to the traditional custodians of the land, the Yugambeh and Yuggera people. The soaring roof structure responds to JPC’s Eagle symbol which represents the ‘soaring’ capabilities of JPC students throughout their future.
- Client
John Paul College
- Location
Daisy Hill, Brisbane
- Year completed
Under construction
