Description:

Hiwa Recreation Centre was conceived to transform the University of Auckland’s City Campus by creating a world-class facility that supports student wellbeing. At its core, the project responds to the University’s strategic goal of enhancing campus life and fostering a strong, engaged student community.

Driven by evidence-based research linking recreation with academic success, Hiwa is both a response to student needs and an investment in their long-term wellbeing.

World-class tertiary institutions are increasingly defined not only by academic excellence but also by the quality of the on-campus experience. The client’s vision was to create a holistic, accessible space that promotes student activation, engagement, and community-building while supporting both mental and physical health in an urban campus setting.

Hiwa is a tangible expression of the University of Auckland’s commitment to student well-being, central to a broader strategy aimed at fostering a connected and engaged campus community—an increasingly vital role in today’s digital and socially fragmented world. 

Spanning 26,000 square meters across eight storeys, Hiwa Recreation Centre occupies an entire city block between Symonds Street and Princes Street, serving 40,000 students, staff, and alumni.

Hiwa is a sustainable, energy-efficient, and culturally embedded landmark. Its stacked vertical design optimises a constrained urban site, while activating the public realm and improving connectivity through the campus and city. The building’s layered social and wellness spaces, gamified fitness circuit, flexible sports halls, and advanced environmental systems represent innovation in both form and function.

It delivers a world-class range of recreation and wellness spaces in an innovative vertical configuration: a below-ground aquatic hall, squash courts, group fitness areas, weight and cardio facilities, dance and yoga studios, a rock-climbing wall, multi-purpose sports halls, a major show court with spectator seating, and rooftop turf and relaxation spaces.

These functions are seamlessly connected by a continuous vertical fitness circuit, comprising stairs and mezzanine and rooftop running tracks, ensuring activity and movement is on display. Complementing its active programs, Hiwa also provides dedicated social and relaxation spaces to encourage community interaction. 

 Beyond its role as a recreation hub, Hiwa contributes to the community by providing a space for study, research, and social interaction. It elevates the University’s infrastructure, offering world-class amenities that attracts international students and contributes to Auckland’s status as a leading education destination. 

Named after Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, the star of aspiration in the Matariki cluster, the project symbolises ambition, transformation, and cultural identity. It reflects a progressive approach to tertiary infrastructure, championing inclusivity, sustainability, technological innovation, and community wellbeing, while reinforcing Auckland’s reputation as a globally competitive education destination.