Massey Park Pool Dome

BUILD

Back when it was first completed, Papakura City was home to New Zealand’s largest air-supported membrane structure, covering approximately 1,700 m² and enclosing both the Olympic and learner’s pools. The structure enabled the facility to operate year-round while providing a large, uninterrupted internal space without the need for conventional structural framing.

When the decision was made to convert the city pool into an year-round facility, an air-supported structure became the obvious solution. The system offered a combination of economical construction, efficient transportation, and the ability to be erected and dismantled relatively quickly. It also provided the flexibility required to accommodate the existing pool configuration.

A number of specific building and safety requirements had to be satisfied, including a maximum travel distance of 18 metres to an exit, exit frames constructed from non-combustible materials, a backup fan and power supply, and fabric that demonstrated non-combustibility characteristics to the required standards. The original concept was subsequently expanded to incorporate the learner’s pool, which is only 13 metres long, creating a unique L-shaped configuration.

Fabric Structures / Structurflex was able to meet these requirements through a combination of bespoke access, anchorage and membrane solutions. Five steel-framed exits and two fibreglass revolving airlock doors were incorporated into the structure. The membrane was manufactured in two halves and spliced together on site, while the adjoining learner’s pool was incorporated using a cable-restrained side bubble.

The structure is anchored using a simple base-pipe system bolted directly to concrete footings. A Grade 2 fire-rated architectural fabric was used throughout, with the finished membrane incorporating Papakura City’s cream and green colours.

Despite its scale and complexity, construction was completed in less than two months, with the structure itself erected in less than one week. Once erected, the complete structure could be inflated in approximately 20 minutes.

The finished facility demonstrated the suitability of air-supported membrane structures for applications requiring large, uninterrupted spans. With an internal volume of approximately 10,600 m³ and a nominal operating pressure of just 0.25 kPa, the Papakura City Pool structure provided an efficient enclosure solution for swimming pools and other large recreational facilities where speed of construction, flexibility and clear internal space are important considerations.