New Sports & Aquatic Centre
There is an air of excitement around Ivanhoe Grammar School that has been slowly building over the past two years with the construction of the School’s new multi-level Sports & Aquatic Centre. The complex will house the following:
- 2 rooftop courts for netball and tennis
- 4 basketball / netball courts– first of their kind built in Australia with NBA standard floors
- 8 indoor volleyball courts
- 16 badminton courts
- Weights room
- Table tennis rooms
- Classrooms
- Offices for Sports Staff
- Kiosk at the front
- 50-metre, 8 lanes wide fully FINA accredited Olympic sized swimming pool.
Along with students and parents, Principal, Mr Gerard Foley is also looking forward to the completion of the works. ‘We have endured facilities that date back 60 years which were obviously geared towards an all-boys school environment when originally built. Our students, parents and teachers will now enjoy a complex that caters for the needs of all our students, in a co-educational setting, across a vast range of sporting disciplines.’
Funding for such projects is always a major point of discussion, however, Mr Foley is keen to acknowledge the pivotal role played by Ivanhoe Grammar School parents. ‘Our past and current parents can take a great deal of pride in the centre and the educational potential that it offers as it is their contributions alone that have seen our dream of five years ago, become a reality.’
‘We should also pay tribute to the construction company, Building Engineering and our architects McIldowie Partners who have combined to ensure that the centre’s footprint fits appropriately onto the property, maximising space and creating a visually impressive, eco-friendly, practical building that complements its surrounds.’ Mr Foley said.
‘We are extremely proud of the strides that the School has made in recent times, in terms of sustainability and this building only complements our strategy. Solar panels on the roof will add 95kw to the already 800kw which are generated by the School now that will make Ivanhoe Grammar School one of the leading schools in Australia for solar power use.’
The final words should really come from the students. Sam in Year 7, ‘I absolutely love basketball, so I can’t wait to play on the NBA standard floors!’ Eliza from Year 8 was also excited at the prospects, ‘It covers so many sports so hopefully, we might discover some new sports stars! I’m sure it will lift everybody’s standards!’
The School expects that the complex will be fully operational by February 2022.
