Ludovika University Sports Centre

As part of the development of the University of Public Service, the Ludovika University Sports Centre was constructed as one of Hungary’s largest and most advanced university campus facilities. The building carries forward the legacy of the Ludovika Academy in the form of a modern, multifunctional sports complex that, beyond serving academic needs, is also open to the general public. The construction was executed by Market Építő Zrt.

The project site is located on the eastern side of Orczy Garden, opposite the main university building. The facility is easily accessible on foot from several directions – from Diószegi Sámuel Street, the educational wings, the dormitories and the park. The main pedestrian arrival point is the Forum, a unique, covered space illuminated by natural light, which not only separates but also connects the swimming pool and the sports hall. This communal space functions as a meeting place, a passageway and a visual gateway to Orczy Garden

The sports centre comprises two principal units: the swimming complex and the sports hall. The pool area includes an eight-lane 21 × 25 metre swimming pool and a 10 × 15 metre training pool, suitable for swimming instruction and training sessions alike. The operation of the interior spaces is supported by more than 226.6 kilometres of mechanical piping. The sports hall is divided into a smaller warm-up hall and a larger multifunctional arena capable of accommodating up to 5,000 spectators  –  making it ideal for hosting major sporting events.

Its cross-divisible main floor allows for the formation of three full-sized basketball courts. The facility also includes a shooting range, outdoor obstacle course, running track, and basketball, tennis, and small-sided football pitches. Considerable emphasis has been placed on the building’s green-façade appearance, achieved using a stainless-steel structural system incorporating 7,132 tonnes of structural steel.

The construction of the university campus is the result of a six-year design and construction process, the first phase of which was completed in the spring of 2018, covering a net floor area of more than 80,000 m². The Ludovika Sports Centre has not only strengthened the educational infrastructure, but has also largely increased the community, recreational and urban significance of the area.