Massey Leisure Centre
and Library
 

The Massey Leisure Centre and Library brings much needed community services to this fast-growing area of Waitakere City. It is another example of the Eco City philosophy put into practice; providing for social needs while also caring for our environment. This centre incorporates innovative environmental features and integrates visual arts throughout.
 

Click the images to view an enlargement
 

Eco initiatives
 

The Massey Leisure Centre and Library brings much needed community services to this fast-growing area of Waitakere City. It is another example of the Eco City philosophy put into practice; providing for social needs while also caring for our environment. This centre incorporates innovative environmental features and integrates visual arts throughout.
 

See the floor plan of the Massey Leisure Centre and Library to see how eco features and art projects have been integrated throughout the building:
 

the numbers on the floor plan represent the eco features
the letters on the floor plan represent the art projects  
 

The vision
 

Our vision was to create an inspiring new building, integrating local arts, history and environmental sustainability and to provide much needed library and leisure facilities to the Massey and Westgate areas. 
 

The site has stunning views to the Waitemata Harbour and can be seen from the North Western motorway. The challenge was to accommodate the view and create better pedestrian linkages from Don Buck Road to the Westgate shopping area.
 

The design team's approach to ventilation, heating, cooling and lighting has largely focussed on natural processes to conserve energy. However, the building has a number of high tech features.
 

Who was involved?
 

Architects - Dodd Paterson and Bukowski Rehm Ltd 
Project Management - Waitakere City Council
Arts Integration - Waitakere City Council
Services Engineers - Ove Arup & Partners New Zealand Ltd
Structural Engineers - Lewis and Williamson
Geotechnical Engineers - TSE Group Ltd
Construction - Mainworks Mainzeal
 

Learning from nature 
 

Waitakere City is leading New Zealand when it comes to translating Eco City theories into practice. The Massey Leisure Centre & Library stands alongside the New Lynn Community Centre as yet another example of this.
 

The building copies natural processes to create pleasant indoor conditions and ensure electrical energy is used efficiently. Cleverly located windows and vents ensure adequate ventilation by drawing fresh cool air in at ground level and letting it escape through windows higher up. By orientating the building and its windows carefully, natural light and solar energy are utilised without causing glare or overheating.
 

People are encouraged to walk or cycle to the building by good pedestrian linkages through the site and facilities for cyclists. All this helps New Zealand reduce its green house gas emissions and also works towards reducing global warming. Water saving technologies are incorporated and extensive use is made of rainwater collected from the roof, reducing the amount of stormwater.
 

Building materials were selected to have minimal environmental impact while ensuring durability and low maintenance requirements.
 

Over time the building will save the community money through lower water and electricity bills and it is hoped that this project will inspire people to incorporate some of the ideas described below into their homes.
 

Eco features describes how the Massey Leisure Centre and Library incorporates innovative environmental features throughout the building.
 

NZ art award winner
 

The Massey Leisure Centre and Library won the premier award at the NZ Creative Places Awards in 2002.
 

The Massey Centre features more than 15 different art projects which have been interwoven into the building and landscape through a variety of mediums. These include a number of functional items ranging from door handles, carpets and cushions to shelving designed by artists specifically for the centre.
 

The same project also won the Enhancing the Built Environment category.  Judges for the awards said the project is a model of how to do things right.
 

"The collaboration and thought that has gone into the project permeates the whole centre and its vibrant artworks," they said.
 

Waitakere City Council's approach to urban design gives artists equal status with planners, architects, landscape designers and engineers. In fact, it is now a Council requirement that a 'lead artist' be contracted onto the design team at the very beginning of all new building projects.
 

Artists involved included the internationally renowned Jeff Thomson, local school students and iwi.  Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey says the centre is a fusion of creativity, design and knowledge.
 

Visit the centre
 

View the location map.
 

Massey Leisure Centre and Library
545 Don Buck Road
Massey
Waitakere City