Naenae Pool and Fitness Centre Wins Prestigious Award for Design

The newly reopened Naenae Pool + Fitness Centre in New Zealand has received significant recognition, winning the Judges’ Choice Award at the 2025 Wellington Property People Awards. This accolade highlights the centre’s impact on the community and its commitment to sustainable design.

The project, led by Hutt City Council, has previously garnered attention for its innovative approach, securing national architecture recognition earlier this year. The $68 million redevelopment is noted as New Zealand’s first aquatic centre to achieve a Green Star 5 rating, setting a benchmark for community infrastructure.

Design and Features of the Complex

The Naenae facility is designed with a focus on environmental sustainability and community engagement. It includes features such as real-time performance tracking and expanded rainwater harvesting systems. The extensive input from local residents and stakeholders shaped its design, ensuring it meets the needs of the community it serves.

The multidisciplinary team responsible for this project included prominent firms like AECOM, Apollo Projects, Architecture HDT, and GHD, among others. Their collaborative efforts have resulted in a facility recognized not only for its aesthetics but also for its functionality and environmental stewardship.

At the Wellington Property People Awards, the Naenae win was part of a broader celebration of excellence in design and development. Other notable awards included the Greenwood Roche Supreme Excellence Award, which was given to Emily Newmarch of Warren and Mahoney for her significant contributions in translating advanced climate research into practical, low-carbon designs.

Recognizing Leadership and Innovation in Property Development

The event also honored Jim Wana as the Catalyst Property Professional of the Year, acknowledging his extensive leadership in Wellington’s retail leasing and investment landscape spanning nearly three decades.

The BBD Best Team Award went to the Archives New Zealand project team, which successfully delivered a high-performance archival facility with a Māori-led design approach. This facility meets stringent seismic and environmental standards, reflecting a commitment to cultural respect and sustainability.

In the sustainability category, the Ngā Mokopuna project team from Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington received the TSA Riley Sustainability Champion Award for a mass-timber whare that aims to achieve certification as one of approximately 35 fully certified Living Buildings worldwide.

Other recipients included Grant Heighway of Catalyst, who received the Rolle Property Outstanding Leadership Award, and Alison Pharaoh of Niche FM, recognized with the Ortus International Long Service Award for her four decades of contributions to property management.

Leonie Freeman, chief executive of Property Council New Zealand, emphasized the importance of human-focused design in the property sector. She stated, “From regenerative education spaces to retail revival and world-class public facilities, these recipients show expertise meeting purpose. Their mahi is shaping a stronger, more sustainable Wellington.”

The achievements celebrated at the Wellington Property People Awards reflect a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community engagement in shaping the future of urban environments.