To mark six years to go until the 2032 Games, the Queensland Government has unveiled the vision for Australia’s new swimming centrepiece, appointing a powerhouse design team and shortlisting builders to bring the National Aquatic Centre to life for the 2032 Games and beyond.

ARM Architecture and NH Architecture and in partnership with Queensland’s Arkhefield will help deliver an iconic swimming and water sports centre that will host the world’s best aquatic athletes in 2032, and be a world-class facility and high-performance hub for Australia’s future super fish.

Embracing Centenary Pool’s heritage listed structures, the National Aquatic Centre will also feature a main and secondary arena, each with large pools to support elite training and competitions.

With a roofline reflecting water and wind, the National Aquatic Centre will feature new pools, a gym, high-performance and office spaces, complementing the existing outdoor pools and amenities of the heritage-listed Centenary Pool.

ARM delivered Perth’s RAC Arena and the redevelopment of Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall, while NH Architecture reimagined and delivered Melbourne Park, widely recognised as one of the nation’s best sport and entertainment precincts. Arkhefield is behind South Bank’s River Quay quarter and the current Waterfront Brisbane development.

The partnership also includes aquatic architecture specialists Liquid Blu, the Queensland design company behind the Yeppoon Lagoon and Pavilion, Palm Beach Aquatic and Community Centre and the Gympie Aquatic Recreation Centre among others.

The Games Independent Infrastructure Construction Authority is also forging ahead with the procurement process to select the National Aquatic Centre’s builder, with four building contractors shortlisted to submit offers, which will close at the end of this month.

This will be further shortlisted to two builders within weeks, allowing GIICA to move to the next phase of assessment and planning, with the final builder to be selected by early 2027.

GIICA will take possession of Centenary Pool on 1 September 2026, to begin early works to prepare the site for construction.

Premier David Crisafulli said the Government was delivering for 2032 and beyond.

"In six years time, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming to Queensland, and we will be ready,” Premier Crisafulli said.

“The eyes of the world will be on us in 2032, but this is about delivering legacy benefits for all of Queensland well beyond that.

“The Centenary Pool is a proud part of Queensland’s swimming history and as a centrepiece for the action during 2032, that history will be strengthened into the future.”