Project

The University of Auckland’s stunning new Recreation Centre is the kind of daredevil design that turns heads. For instance, it currently boasts the largest stainless-steel pool in New Zealand, with innovative structural features that allow caretakers to walk directly underneath the pool for maintenance.

However, in any space full of movement and action, there is also a risk of accidents. As specialists in safety and accessibility detailing, Freedom Works were contracted to make this environment user-friendly and to ensure that it complies with building standards.

Our team installed over a kilometre’s worth of stair nosing for staircases throughout the Recreation Centre. We traditionally offer rebated stair nosing, but here we manufactured a surface-mounted version to suit our client’s construction methods. Not only does this stair nosing increase foot resistance over potentially slippery surfaces, but it’s also designed to withstand heavy pedestrian traffic and to protect the stair underneath it from damage.

As if safety and durability weren’t enough of a draw, Freedom Works added an aesthetic touch by using a black base for the stair nosing to match the black floor, then opting for steel stair nosing treads to provide a striking contrast. This contrast doubles as a safety measure, visually capturing users’ attention and warning them of stair edges. Some of the staircases in the recreation centre are part of a running track, so slip-proofing was absolutely crucial in these areas.

Stairs aren’t the only place where we made a difference for safety. Freedom Works installed approximately 72 square metres’ worth of stainless-steel tactile indicators around the Recreation Centre. For the building’s spherical atrium, we went one step further and designed custom curved tactile templates with highly precise spacings. These tactile indicators inform pedestrians about physical hazards, making the environment more accessible for visually impaired users.

Given the sheer scope of this project and the complexity of the building’s architecture, Freedom Works was proud to deliver customised solutions which met code requirements and complemented the building’s elegant design. The use of high-quality materials ensures that these stair nosings and tactile indicators will stand the test of time, serving the needs of this academic institution for many years to come.