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22 July 2026

Sporting potential: boosting the offerings of indoor stadiums

For many of us, growing up in Australia involved playing sport in a recreation centre that was essentially a sweltering tin shed – functional, yes, but loud, cavernous and locked up for much of the time. Today, the best indoor stadiums and sports facilities are a far cry from that: they drive local economic activity and are spaces a community can be proud of.

Architectus Principal David Karotkin sees them as pieces of civic infrastructure with huge potential: “When you look past the scoreboards and line markings, a good indoor stadium has similar DNA to a town hall,” he says. “It’s where people meet, compete, learn, celebrate and connect – under the one very hard-working roof.”

When government dollars are tight, this versatility matters. Well-designed sports facilities can act as bridges between cultures, generations and lifestyles.

They can also deliver great returns in health, social connection and regional development.

“Every dollar that goes into one of these venues works extremely hard,” says Karotkin. “Indoor stadiums might primarily be spaces for enabling physical activity, but they’re also great for community events, education, tourism and small business.”

East Fremantle Community Park

Building in broad appeal

Designing for this breadth of user groups is unquestionably a balancing act. Today’s indoor stadiums must be welcoming yet secure, multi-use yet purpose-specific, and high quality yet cost effective.

They need to handle everything from mid-week basketball to graduations, expos and performances. That means careful attention to acoustics, wayfinding, storage, durability and comfort, not to mention occupancy and accessibility requirements.

Swan Active Midland

Projects such as Swan Active Midland in Western Australia – led by Senior Architect Julian Shaw and Senior Interior Designer Alita Ngo – highlight what’s possible. Community engagement on this project resulted in expanded gym spaces, integrated and sustainable amenities, and programming that keeps the building occupied right through the week.

Co-located offerings – such as cafes, allied health and childcare – add convenience for visitors and new revenue streams for operators.

“When you co-locate services, it’s not just about filling tenancies. You’re building a daily rhythm around the building so it feels alive from morning to evening.”

Swan Active Midland

Expanding social opportunities

This constant hum of activity pays dividends in terms of health, inclusion and addressing social isolation. Bringing people in for one reason can sometimes lead them to discover others.

“A parent might come for their child’s swimming lesson and notice a flyer for a social netball comp taking place there – suddenly their relationship to the place changes and so does the potential of what that building can offer,” says Karotkin. “These are so much more than simply shelters for sport.”

Cockburn ARC

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