For many schools across New Zealand, building a new gym or multi-use hall is a significant investment. But too often, school gym mistakes are made early in the design process—mistakes that can’t easily be fixed later. From low ceilings to missing fixing points, these issues reduce long-term functionality and limit the use of these high-cost spaces.
We see schools ending up with beautifully finished buildings that fall short when it comes to real-world functionality. Most of the time, the issues aren’t visible in the plans; they’re the result of key decisions made early in the process without specialist input.
Here are some of the most common oversights:
1. Ceiling Heights That Limit Use
One of the biggest challenges we see is insufficient vertical clearance. Many new multi-use halls in primary schools are designed with ceiling heights between 4.5 to 5.5 metres, which may suit assemblies and general use, but fall short for key sports like volleyball, badminton, and basketball.
Even in gyms designed for intermediate and secondary schools, we’re seeing cases where the intended ceiling height is reduced once lighting, ventilation, and other services are installed, leaving too little clearance for safe, competitive sport or future equipment upgrades.
Too-low ceilings limit the ability to install standard hoops, divider curtains, or even essential services without impacting play. Once built, there’s little that can be done to fix this.
You can read more about recommended clearances in our blog on minimum ceiling heights for indoor sports facilities.
2. No Built-In Fixing or Structural Support
Suspended systems, like retractable hoops, divider curtains, scoreboards, or netting, require proper structural fixing. If these aren’t considered during the early design stages, retrofitting them becomes expensive and, in some cases, impossible.
It’s not just about load capacity; these systems must also align with structural steelwork, which won’t exist unless planned early. We’ve seen brand-new builds where schools are forced to abandon planned equipment or resort to less functional, wall-mounted alternatives because there was simply nowhere to anchor overhead systems.
The fix? Ensure that fixing points for sports equipment are detailed in the architectural drawings from the beginning. We can supply accurate CAD files and technical specs to help make this process straightforward for both architects and engineers.
3. No Allowance for Multi-Sport Layouts
Multi-use means more than one sport at a time—but only if layouts, markings, and access points are planned accordingly.
We often see:
- Overlapping courts that limit simultaneous use.
- Inadequate spacing between courts and walls or other equipment.
- Wall-fixed equipment blocking play areas or creating hazards.
- Floor markings that are hard to read due to poor colour separation or layout conflicts.
These issues are avoidable when early layout planning involves suppliers who understand how sport will actually be played in the space, not just how it looks on paper.
4. Lighting, Ventilation & Acoustics as Afterthoughts
Good sports spaces don’t just look great, they need to function comfortably too.
Lighting is a major factor. Poor placement or overly harsh fittings can cause glare or shadows that interfere with play, especially in sports like badminton or volleyball, where players are looking upward. Ideally, lighting should be evenly distributed and positioned to avoid clashing with equipment.
Ventilation is equally important. Sports spaces heat up quickly, and without proper airflow, they become uncomfortable, particularly during summer or high-use periods.
Acoustics also matter. Without the right materials, large halls can become echo chambers that make teaching difficult and amplify background noise during games and assemblies.
Factoring in these functional design elements early ensures the space performs well for every user, students, teachers, and spectators alike.
5. Not Involving the Right People Early
One of the most significant missed opportunities in school gym projects is failing to consult with specialist equipment suppliers early in the process.
Architects and builders are skilled, but may not have the in-depth knowledge to ensure a space fully supports school sports, now and in the future.
We’ve been brought in too late on many projects where planned equipment didn’t fit the space, or last-minute changes were needed to accommodate systems that hadn’t been accounted for in the drawings.
Early collaboration allows us to avoid common school gym mistakes:
- Recommend ceiling heights and court layouts that meet sporting codes
- Supply CAD files that integrate into architectural plans
- Flag clashes with lighting, HVAC, or structural elements
- Suggest future-proofed systems for evolving needs
It’s a simple step that can prevent costly compromises and help schools maximise the value of their investment.
We’ve walked into plenty of brand-new gymnasiums and multi-use halls that look fantastic on the surface, but because key sporting requirements weren’t factored in, they simply can’t be used to their full potential.
That might mean there’s no way to install essential equipment, or that the space doesn’t meet basic clearance or safety standards for regular sport. It’s not just disappointing, it’s a missed opportunity that can be hard (and costly) to undo.
Planning a new gym or hall?
We’re always happy to chat with schools, architects, and builders about what’s needed to create a space that works now and in the future and avoid common school gym mistakes.
