By Sharen Kaur
sharen@mediaprima.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: THE regeneration of the 17-year-old Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex (NSC) is timely as Malaysia will be playing host to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2017.
The NSC facilities were built by the UEM-Renong group in 1995 for the 1998 Commonwealth Games and have not undergone any significant refurbishment works since its opening.
The facilities at the sport complex are in serious need of repair. The changing rooms and washrooms are deteriorating, its air-conditioning and ventilation system poor, while other systems, including fire safety and lighting, require an overhaul.
The building facades, meanwhile, are ageing and need a major uplifting.
At the same time, while the NSC is well-connected with numerous access roads and a light rail transit (LRT) station, there is a need to also improve the infrastructure.
All these are about to change with the Federal Government's RM1.6 billion regeneration plan for the complex, which will turn it into an iconic Kuala Lumpur Sports City.
KL Sports City is a fully integrated sports hub that will consist of high performance sports training facilities, a sports rehabilitation science centre, a youth park, public sports facilities, a sports museum, youth hostel, convention centre, and a sports-focused retail mall.
The short term aim is clear - get the NSC ready to host the SEA Games in 2017.
This will involve the regeneration of the Bukit Jalil Stadium and will see some key works carried out at the Putra Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre and the National Hockey Stadium.
There will be a new facade for the national stadium, improvements to fire safety, lighting, washrooms and changing rooms, as well as better public transportation links and increased pedestrian access.
But it's not all about the SEA Games as the government is also looking at taking sports to another level in Malaysia. Once the SEA Games is over, the focus will shift to building KL Sports City.
What all these mean is that the sports city will contain new, world-class infrastructure that is accessible not only to athletes, but also the local community, recreational users and the public. This vibrant sports hub will then be accessible and usable all year round.
Populous, an international expert in sports architecture, is the designer for KL Sports City.
The award-winning company is a global leader when it comes to creating stadiums that not only catch the eye, but also draw people and communities together.
Its previous designs included the Yankee Stadium, the 2012 London Olympic Stadium, South Korea's Incheon 2014 Asian Games Stadium and the Etihad Stadium expansion project in Manchester.
Populous recently revealed designs for an elliptical stadium for London football club Tottenham Hotspur, boasting a retractable pitch that will allow it to also host American football games.
When it comes to the NSC regeneration project and the current state of its facilities, something on this scale and timeline is always going to be ambitious.
But that is just what Malaysia needs - a national stadium that provides a worthy stage for athletes to perform on during the 2017 SEA Games and a sports city that can then inspire us all to live healthier, more active lives.
sharen@mediaprima.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: THE regeneration of the 17-year-old Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex (NSC) is timely as Malaysia will be playing host to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2017.
The NSC facilities were built by the UEM-Renong group in 1995 for the 1998 Commonwealth Games and have not undergone any significant refurbishment works since its opening.
The facilities at the sport complex are in serious need of repair. The changing rooms and washrooms are deteriorating, its air-conditioning and ventilation system poor, while other systems, including fire safety and lighting, require an overhaul.
The building facades, meanwhile, are ageing and need a major uplifting.
At the same time, while the NSC is well-connected with numerous access roads and a light rail transit (LRT) station, there is a need to also improve the infrastructure.
All these are about to change with the Federal Government's RM1.6 billion regeneration plan for the complex, which will turn it into an iconic Kuala Lumpur Sports City.
KL Sports City is a fully integrated sports hub that will consist of high performance sports training facilities, a sports rehabilitation science centre, a youth park, public sports facilities, a sports museum, youth hostel, convention centre, and a sports-focused retail mall.
The short term aim is clear - get the NSC ready to host the SEA Games in 2017.
This will involve the regeneration of the Bukit Jalil Stadium and will see some key works carried out at the Putra Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre and the National Hockey Stadium.
There will be a new facade for the national stadium, improvements to fire safety, lighting, washrooms and changing rooms, as well as better public transportation links and increased pedestrian access.
But it's not all about the SEA Games as the government is also looking at taking sports to another level in Malaysia. Once the SEA Games is over, the focus will shift to building KL Sports City.
What all these mean is that the sports city will contain new, world-class infrastructure that is accessible not only to athletes, but also the local community, recreational users and the public. This vibrant sports hub will then be accessible and usable all year round.
Populous, an international expert in sports architecture, is the designer for KL Sports City.
The award-winning company is a global leader when it comes to creating stadiums that not only catch the eye, but also draw people and communities together.
Its previous designs included the Yankee Stadium, the 2012 London Olympic Stadium, South Korea's Incheon 2014 Asian Games Stadium and the Etihad Stadium expansion project in Manchester.
Populous recently revealed designs for an elliptical stadium for London football club Tottenham Hotspur, boasting a retractable pitch that will allow it to also host American football games.
When it comes to the NSC regeneration project and the current state of its facilities, something on this scale and timeline is always going to be ambitious.
But that is just what Malaysia needs - a national stadium that provides a worthy stage for athletes to perform on during the 2017 SEA Games and a sports city that can then inspire us all to live healthier, more active lives.
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