Hubo Studio didn’t just build a sports centre — they created an entire sports campus composed of multiple structures. The coffee shop, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, dance studio, fully equipped gym, and separate outdoor gym spaces come together to offer an unparalleled sports experience that is directly connected to King David High School (KDHL). Each component of the Klaff Family Sports Complex plays its own role while collectively forming a cohesive environment.
Warm up
One of the campus’s most ingenious features is its use of levels. The heaviest structural components are positioned at the lowest section of the site, which minimises any sense of obstruction from the street view. Instead, the building presents a thoughtfully scaled appearance with integrated branding in the plasterwork that proudly showcases KDHL. On the lower levels, the team designed a four-storey sports arena with an ‘inside-outside’ concept in mind. The basketball court, which also accommodates futsal, netball, and volleyball, uses cross-laminated timber to create resilient and budget-conscious seating with substantial storage underneath. This space connects through a tunnel to the change rooms, allowing teams to transition seamlessly between team talks and matches. Excellent acoustics in | PROJECT |the change rooms foster team dynamics, while the state-of-the-art materials used throughout make a vibrant sports experience.
Train
The gym connects directly to outdoor training spaces, allowing for activities such as race starts, scrums, and other exercises. Outdoor gym equipment, as well as amphitheatre-style seating, adds an extra dimension for athletes, making the entire space an active and engaging environment for effective training.The entire campus breathes with shared courtyards and spaces that flow into one another. The gym housing cardio equipment features double-volume spaces with beautiful views of the playing field — allowing athletes to feel connected to the action while training.
Recover
There are two rehabilitation rooms, designed with flexibility in mind, that can easily adapt to the changing needs of physiotherapists and doctors, essential for students to receive cutting-edge treatment on-site. These rooms are complemented by ice baths for recovery, emphasising the building’s holistic approach to sports — and supporting the cycle of warm up, train, rest.
Analyse
Upstairs, a dedicated analysis room with ample storage is perfect for future technological integration. This room includes a screen for game reviews and team discussions, providing a designated area for in-depth analysis. The sports office shares this space, adding to its versatility.The entire facility is designed to maximise flexibility and function while encouraging visibility and interaction. A café with a viewing deck offers a fantastic vantage point for watching rugby games or simply enjoying the surrounding activities. The building itself is punctuated by bold, vibrant colours, with the King David blue accentuating 1 400 square metres of plasterwork — crafted by a skilled local artisan. The vibrant exterior gives the structure a dynamic, energetic presence and a feeling of movement.In essence, the sports campus is an extension of the school, offering a future-proof, versatile, and engaging environment for students to thrive both in sports and in their everyday lives.
“One of the campus’s most ingenious features is its use of levels.”
SUPPLIERS
Flooring: Floors International South Africa | Joinery: CEN Kitchens & Cabinetry | Lighting: Sarita Sharman Lighting | Paint: Plascon | Timber Grandstands: Mass Timber Technologies | Steelwork: SM Structures | Acoustic Panels: Thula Wall Acoustic Panels | Tiles: NWT Tiles
MEET THE TEAM:
Architect: Hubo Studio | Main Contactor: Astek Property Group | Engineer: ConsulTauri Design | Quantity Surveyor: James Welsh Consulting
