What has changed at Nyon’s centre sportif du Rocher?
The Centre sportif du Rocher has been part of Nyon’s sporting landscape since 1977. It has been used by generations of schoolchildren and local clubs, but much of the site had reached the end of its technical, thermal and safety lifespan.
After more than two years of work, the City of Nyon is opening the renovated centre to the public on Saturday 3 October. The open day will give residents the chance to look inside the updated facilities, explore the redesigned outdoor areas and take part in a programme of sports activities, demonstrations and guided tours.
This is a one-day public event, rather than the opening of a new public swimming pool. Cossy remains the swimming pool most Nyon residents use for regular public swimming, alongside Colovray in the summer. The pool at the Rocher is primarily used by local schools and sports clubs, although visitors will be able to experience parts of the renovated facility during the open day.
It is an opportunity to see what has changed and to understand how the renovated site will support the schools, clubs and wider community that use it.
A major renovation
Launched in 2023, the project represents an investment of CHF 22.3 million, with a further CHF 2 million allocated to the outdoor works. In total, 35 companies and nine specialist firms, including architects, landscape architects and engineers, were involved. The existing structures were preserved wherever possible, while the façades and roofs were refurbished and the sports facilities upgraded.
The swimming pool, which closed for safety reasons in 2018, has been completely rebuilt. It now includes a 25-metre pool, a non-swimmers’ pool and one- and three-metre diving boards. The pool surrounds and changing rooms have also been renovated, with improved access for people with reduced mobility.
The sports hall has also been upgraded. The triple sports hall covers 1,110 square metres and can accommodate up to 650 spectators. The entrance hall now includes a more functional refreshment area, and a lift makes it easier to access the different levels.
The renovation of the interior of the sports hall, including the changing rooms and ventilation and lighting systems, is still to be completed.
More space outside
The work has extended beyond the buildings themselves. The outdoor areas around the Centre sportif and the primary school now include a Finnish track, additional trees, permeable surfaces, benches, tiered seating and a drinking fountain.
Multi-generational spaces have been designed to support play and informal gatherings outside school hours. A wooden platform on the roof of the dojo creates a quieter place to sit, while the wooded area along the Asse and the railway tracks has been enhanced with native and climate-adapted planting.
These changes are intended to make the site more useful and welcoming beyond its role as a place for school sports and club training.
A more energy-efficient site
Rocher was previously one of the largest energy consumers among the municipality’s buildings. The renovation has reduced its energy consumption by 53 per cent compared with the previous situation, while the power required for heating has fallen by approximately 38 per cent. The swimming pool has moved from CECB energy class G to D, while the sports hall has moved from G to B.
The roof of the sports hall now has a photovoltaic installation with 220 panels covering approximately 440 square metres. The swimming pool has 72 solar thermal panels, which provide more than 70 per cent of its heating requirements during the summer.
In the future, connection to the district heating network will provide energy from at least 85 per cent renewable sources. The reduction in CO₂ emissions is estimated at more than 450 tonnes per year.
What can you see during the open day?
The public programme takes place on Saturday 3 October, with activities continuing until 16:00. Some activities begin earlier in the morning. From 09:00 to 11:30, visitors can take part in recreational swimming and use the diving boards. This is part of the open-day programme and does not represent a permanent opening of the Rocher pool for public swimming.
A friendly basketball match between BBC Nyon junior teams will take place from 09:30 to 10:45. Drinks and light refreshments will be available from 10:00 to 16:00, provided by Nyon Basket Féminin and BBC Nyon.
From 11:00 to 16:00, visitors can try basketball, take part in an obstacle course on the Finnish track, discover martial arts with Judo Club Nyon or join a face-painting workshop.
The programme will also include Latin dance introductions with Com2Salsa and a demonstration by the Nyon section of the Vaud Cantonal Association of Traditional Costumes.
The sports facilities and redesigned outdoor areas can be explored freely from 13:30 to 16:30. Guided tours of the sports facilities will take place at 13:30, 14:30 and 15:30. Guided tours of the outdoor areas will be held at 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00. These tours require advance registration.
Practical information
Centre sportif du Rocher open day
Saturday 3 October 2026
Main public programme: 10:00–16:00
Location: Centre sportif du Rocher, Nyon
For full details and registration for the guided tours, visit the Ville de Nyon website.
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