St George Illawarra Dragons Community & High Performance Centre

Populous is leading the design for the AU$65 million CHPC, which will allow Sydney National Rugby League team the Dragons’ five-plus existing facilities to come together under one roof at the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Innovation Campus.  This will further facilitate the crosspollination of the club’s elite and junior representative pathway programs. 

The project will create a world class precinct and facility that delivers high performance, administration and community facilities for elite, pathways and community programs.  It will enhance the partnership between the Dragons and UOW across education, research and innovation and will harness the community power of sport to expand health and wellbeing programs and other community initiatives.

“It hasn’t been seen before by the club, so from a playing group perspective, they will have the best of everything.”  

Tim Watsford, Dragons CEO 

The perimeter design of the CHPC building will pay homage to the legendry Dragons “V” with the incorporation of large V-shaped steel columns that support the structure. 

The Red V jersey is one of Australian sport’s most iconic symbols of excellence and celebrated its centenary in 2021.  The V shape continues to be a powerful symbol for the club, and the CHPC’s design conveys the importance of this symbolism throughout the structure. 

Wollongong is known as “Steel City” and the CHPC’s columns are a physical reference to the local men and women who have worked in the industry since the 1920s and to the origins of the club being an amalgamation of the St George Dragons & Illawarra Steelers.  

The Community and High-Performance Centre will include:

→  Aquatic recovery, medical and treatment facilities 

→  Equitable male and female player facilities

→  High-performance gym, hydration and sport science areas 

→  Two full-sized NRL playing fields 

→  A lecture theatre and meeting rooms 

→  Community classroom and program spaces, including an internal ‘grandstand’ 

→  Office space for football, community and administration staff 

→  A communal dining/function room and lounge 

→  Office space for community partners 

→  UOW research collaboration space 

→  An Allied Health area 

The Centre will be known as The Bruce Gordon Centre when it opens  in 2026. A Dragons Life Member, Bruce Gordon is a distinguished media pioneer, businessman and passionate rugby league supporter whose enduring commitment has been instrumental in the club’s stability and success.