Commissioned by the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), CPB Contractors (formerly Broad Construction) delivered the AIS Aquatic and Recovery Centre in Canberra, Australia, under a design and construct contract. Completed in 2006, the project played a pivotal role in preparing Australian athletes for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The state-of-the-art facility features a 50m FINA-approved pool with a uniform 3m depth and a movable boom for flexible configuration. It was designed to support elite performance and world-record potential through advanced technologies and precision engineering.

Key features include:

• Instrumented starting blocks
• Digital video monitoring above and below water
• Magnetic timing system with strategically placed probes
• 3D magnetic modelling system for skeletal analysis of swimmer technique

These innovations provide coaches, athletes, and sports scientists with unparalleled tools for training and performance analysis.

The Recovery Centre supports both wet and dry post-training recovery, enhancing physiological and psychological restoration for high-performance athletes.

Architectural innovations by COX Architecture include:

• Folded aluminium roof system for superior thermal, acoustic, and condensation control
• Natural ventilation via double-glazed walls and overhead windows

The facility is a vital component of the AIS, which leads and enables Australia’s high-performance sport system. It continues to serve as a benchmark in elite athlete preparation and sports science integration.