State Basketball Centre

The State Basketball Centre in South Australia is the official ‘home for basketball’—a centre of excellence for high-performance sports programs in South Australia. The Centre boasts four courts to expand the Wayville Sports Centre to seven, including an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Level 1-rated show court. It can accommodate up to 1600 spectators and bridges the gap between elite and community sports.

The State Basketball Centre’s design is focused on flexibility, accommodating the high standard requirements of a diverse stakeholder group. It caters to the needs of local, district, state, and national basketball teams, transforming from practice modes and tournaments to an international standard exhibition hall for the Royal Adelaide Show Dog Competition, held annually in September. 

The Centre functions as Adelaide Lightning’s training base, providing the facilities the national league requires. Basketball SA, Country Basketball, SA Wheelchair Basketball, and SA Church Basketball programs run from the same venue. In addition to its elite overlay, the centre encourages higher participation rates for grassroots sports by providing community players access to the same high-performance facilities as professional players.

Barrier-free design enables participation in sports for all

The State Basketball Centre’s barrier-free design provides inclusive, adaptable facilities that promote diversity and participation in sports and create a welcoming environment for all, regardless of abilities or limitations. Wheelchair sports users have accessible restrooms and a Changing Places facility with specialised fixtures to assist with mobility. A sensory room supports the needs of neurodiverse centre users or people affected by noises, smells, lights and crowds and provides a respite for showgoers and spectators alike.

An identity that reflects its use and surrounds

The extruded red brickwork provides a dynamic pattern inspired by a basketball game’s rhythm and highlights the heritage values of the existing brickwork throughout the showgrounds. The ‘rippling’ bricks create an active play of light and shadow across the building during the day, leading the eye to the main entry lobby and weaving together old and new building sections. The building envelope is a modern interpretation of the sawtooth design in surrounding buildings and pavilions. The upper facade is illuminated with colour at night to form a vibrant backdrop during the Royal Adelaide Show and acts as wayfinding for feature basketball events. 

Efficient and sustainable design

Responding to a challenging budget, the design team focused on efficiency, undertaking extensive feasibility testing with consultants to provide the most efficient services and structural systems. New technologies, including hybrid evaporative cooling developed in South Australia, are integrated into the building, promoting local industry and reducing whole-of-life operational costs. Materials were chosen for their technical properties, including durability, acoustic insulation, and thermal efficiency. The court’s flooring is industry-best-practice North American maple. Where available, the project uses local products and minimises waste to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. LED illuminates the building throughout, and the centre connects to the showground’s sustainability systems that collect and store water and harness solar energy.

The State Basketball Centre promotes excellence in sports and ensures that everyone, regardless of ability or background, can experience its facilities and programs. The Centre has become a valuable resource for the state, bringing people together, fostering a sense of belonging and connection and inspiring the next generation of elite athletes.