Location: Pingelly, Australia.

Architect: Iredale Pedersen Hook architects + Advanced Timber Concepts Studio.

With a population of roughly 1200, Pingelly is a small town in Western Australia’s “Wheatbelt” that was founded in 1860. It is proud to be the home of the “Pingelly Tigers” the first all-Aboriginal Australian Rules Football team, and contains 12.4% First Nation residents. Most of the individuals who live in the Shire work as farmers or own small businesses like bars, banks, or agricultural service providers. With high participation rates and competitive success, sport has long played a significant social and cultural role in both Wadjela (white) and Native communities. Four pavilions make up the project, which also includes a function centre, bowling alley, bar, community kitchen, and cultural centre. They are connected by a long verandah.

The site also houses a new Aging in Place home development, Community Health Center, Public Swimming Pool, and Tennis and Netball courts. All-inclusive accessibility for wheelchair and assistance users is provided by external verandah spaces, which are used to provide adaptable spaces for year-round activity. The Multi-Function Sports Hall was built utilising a Pinus radiata LVL box building technique and has a portal frame that spans 28.5 metres. The entire complex’s floor and deck structure is made of LVL bearers and joists that are assembled using a dovetailed mortise and tenon joint that does not require mechanical fasteners. The Sports Hall is lined with recycled black polyester insulation batts that are covered with wood “Cassettes” which offer excellent thermal and acoustic insulation.

The east side of the sports hall provides access to storage areas and an elevated commentary box for broadcasting sports and court sports. The Function Centre has a “cultural courtyard” with native plant beds, and the Function Centre Bar has mementos and a digital screen that presents historical information about the Town’s culture. The bowling club and bar give the town and clubs a source of cash and jobs. The centre wants to host and provide for all community members for sporting, social, and cultural events as well as draw visitors from the neighbouring shires. To do this, 1000 tonnes of mature Yellow Stringy Bark [YSB] or Eucalyptus Muelleriana logs from plantations were obtained from the South West Woods and processed locally.

Photo credit: Peter Bennetts.