Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club upgrade wins international award for accessibility

Published Date
27/10/2021
News Topic
Upgrades & Improvements, Council
Coogee Surf Club upgrade was completed in 2021.

A Randwick Council upgrade to Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club has received a top award for accessible sports facilities in one of the world’s most sought-after architectural awards.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) presented the much-coveted medals for exemplary sports and leisure architecture in Germany on Tuesday 26 October 2021.

The awards, which are presented every two years, are specifically for sports, leisure and recreational facilities. The IPC IAKS Distinction award, which was presented for Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club, is aimed at increasing the accessibility of all sports and leisure facilities and architectural structures to offer all people opportunities to practise and view sport freely and without barriers.

From 86 contenders, Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club was chosen as one of seven winners to receive a ‘Distinction’ for its accessibility.

The iconic Coogee building was devastated by huge seas in 2016 that tore out lower sections of the building and was required to be partially rebuilt.

In response, the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and Randwick City Council oversaw a significant upgrade in 2020 designed by Allen Jack + Cottier Architects.

The works protect the building from future storm damage, modernise and maximise the interior club layout and provide access to the building for the first time for people in wheelchairs and with disabilities.

The works also provide the ability for remote surf patrols to be conducted from the building overlooking the beach providing a truly accessible building and surf lifesaving service for people of all abilities.

It has brought accessibility to a whole new level in Coogee, making surf lifesaving a possibility for those who otherwise might have not been able to partake. The building upgrade was a project of Randwick City Council and the Coogee Surf Life Saving Club and designed by Allen Jack+Cottier Architects.

“It allows us to reimagine what the iconic Australian lifesaver looks like,” says Tony Waller, Club Governor, Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club.

“This club is now able to welcome people of all abilities to partake in rescues overlooking the beach,” says architect Michael Heenan, Allen Jack + Cottier Architects.

Last Updated: 1 March 2022
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