Fast + Epp named to design team for the National Aquatic Centre in Brisbane

July 23, 2026

Fast + Epp, in collaboration with Robert Bird Group, have been appointed structural engineer on the National Aquatic Centre in Brisbane for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The National Aquatic Centre will be developed adjacent to the existing Centenary Pool at Victoria Park in Spring Hill. Designed to host the majority of aquatic events during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the venue will balance the demands of elite competition with long-term community benefit, providing a world-class facility for public use long after the Games. 

Working alongside Robert Bird Group, together with the broader AAN design consortium — comprising ARM Architecture, Arkhefield and NH Architecture — Fast + Epp is excited to contribute to the design of the National Aquatic Centre’s architecturally defining wave-form roof.  

The project brings together Robert Bird Group’s deep Brisbane roots, local expertise and experience across complex infrastructure, major sporting venues and large-span roof structures with Fast + Epp’s international experience in award-winning aquatic facilities and landmark long-span timber structures. Together, the two firms will deliver an expressive and high-performing structural solution for this landmark venue.

About the team 

ARM Architecture brings a strong track record in the design of culturally significant civic and public buildings, delivering projects that are both contextually responsive and architecturally distinctive. 

Arkhefield is a Queensland-based design studio known for its leadership in place-led urban design, architecture and civic projects. With deep local knowledge, Arkhefield plays a key role in shaping contextually responsive environments that connect communities, culture, and place. 

NH Architecure is an internationally recognized design practice with extensive experience across large-scale civic, cultural and urban infrastructure projects, with expertise in design coordination and the integration of complex project requirements into cohesive, high-performing built outcomes. 

Robert Bird Group (RBG), with more than four decades of experience delivering complex, high-profile infrastructure and major sporting venues globally, brings deep expertise in structural, civil and construction engineering. The practice is recognized for translating ambitious architectural vision into efficient, buildable and innovative engineering solutions, particularly across large-span structures, complex geometries, and technically demanding environments. 

Fast + Epp brings international experience in award-winning timber and aquatic structures, with particular strength in expressive, efficient structural systems that support ambitious architectural outcomes. Our expertise will complement RBG’s local knowledge and delivery capability as the team develops the venue’s iconic wave-form long-span roof structures.

Rendering from GIICA