Diocesan students benefit from new world-class, all-weather sports turf
A new, all-weather, wet dressed sports turf at Auckland’s Diocesan School for Girls that will provide world-class training and match facilities for the school’s students as well as the wider sports community is believed to be a world first.
The multi-purpose sports turf in the Epsom grounds of the all-girls, Anglican-based independent school, which was officially opened on February 15, is thought to be the world’s first water-based sports facility to be built on top of a car park.
The $12 million, two-level complex, which was completed on budget and on time, is one of the final stages of an ambitious 20 year Master Plan to rebuild, relocate and upgrade parts of the 109 year old campus at Diocesan. The school provides some of the country’s best secondary school facilities for its 1500 students including its world-class Aquatic Centre.
The “London blue” sports turf is the premium hockey surface available in the world and is the same as that being used for the London Olympics. It can be used wet or dry for different sports, but is always wet dressed for hockey for optimum ball speed and to minimise injuries.
Shock pads under the turf’s surface as well as its straight and curly fibres make balls roll faster and more smoothly. Players can see balls more easily on a blue surface which also gives better definition for photography and filming.
A 50 mm, bitumen-based membrane system separates the turf from a 209 vehicle car park, the Diocesan Shop, the School Archives and Property Team facilities on the bottom level of the complex.
The turf, which Diocesan students will use for codes including hockey, soccer and touch rugby as well as general PE and fitness, has competition quality night lighting, a tiered spectator gallery and three “dugouts” for home and visiting teams and officials. The complex also includes new tennis and netball courts.
Diocesan, which has produced some of New Zealand’s top hockey players including current Black Sticks Katie Glynn, Sam Harrison and Ella Gunson, will also make the turf available for competition hockey games for primary, intermediate and secondary students run by Auckland Hockey and College Sport.
The Governor-General, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae officially opened the turf complex at a ceremony attended by 300 guests as well as Diocesan staff and students.
In a 15-minute a side exhibition match to celebrate the opening, an All Stars team of Dio Old Girls beat Diocesan’s First XI squad 6-0.
The All Stars team included former Blacks Sticks including Becki Abbott, Frances Kreft, Elizabeth Ryan and Diocesan Deputy Principal Chris Arthur, as well as Black Sticks Glynn, Harrison and Gunson.
The game kicked off after the Governor-General unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening of the turf which is the culmination of more than five years of fundraising by the school’s community. Diocesan staff also teamed up to play a netball game against the School’s Premier team.
The complex was designed by Melbourne-based architects McIldowie Partners in partnership with Auckland-based Upton Architects whose other Diocesan projects since 2004 included its world-class Aquatic Centre, Senior Common Rooms and refurbishment of the Sports Centre.
Diocesan School for Girls caters for 1500 students from Year 0 to 13. Its dual educational pathway at senior level means students can choose between studying for the NCEA qualification or the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma.