New milestones marked for key 2032 Brisbane Olympic & Paralympic Games venues

The delivery of key 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games venues as well as generational infrastructure is steadily gaining momentum in just 12 months after the Queensland Government released the 2032 Delivery Plan.

New milestones have been reached across the Plan, with more elements locked in for the Brisbane Stadium upgrade and the announcement of principal architects for the Sunshine Coast Stadium and Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre.

“The Australian Government’s investment in sporting and community infrastructure across Queensland will deliver world class facilities and real, long-lasting benefits for players, spectators and visitors for years to come.

“These landmark venues and their surrounding infrastructure are taking shape fast and will be worthy homes and major drawcards for the state’s sporting and cultural events long after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said.

“The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are about helping current and emerging Aussie athletes realise their dreams in front of the world.

“Sport has a unique ability to inspire Australians and bring communities together.

“Seeing these venues and the surrounding infrastructure come to life shows the progress that’s being made to ensure those benefits can be realised before 2032 as well as long after the closing ceremony,” Federal Minister for Communications and Sport Anika Wells said.

Brisbane Stadium Upgrade

Artist impression of Brisbane Stadium upgrade (source: GIICA)

Following the appointment of COX Architecture, Hassell and Azusa Sekkei as the Brisbane Stadium design team, critical features and field play elements have been locked in including field size, field orientation and the stadium’s location within Victoria Park:

• Field of play size and shape – to be the equivalent of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), and proposed field of play is supported by AFL, Cricket Australia, concert promoters and Brisbane 2032. The field of play size and shape was determined after comparison of four major oval venues across Australia – the Gabba, Perth’s Optus Stadium, the MCG and Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. Optus and the MCG are significantly longer than Marvel and the Gabba, better accommodating an athletics track
• Field orientation – east-west configuration after analysis of sun position, winds and legacy operational needs for AFL and cricket. The orientation of the field of play was settled after workshop discussions with AFL and Cricket Australia and analysis of sun positions, winds, and the overall stadium footprint. This orientation better suits operational needs and eliminates the requirement for a second media centre under combined AFL and cricket usage
• Location – a central position near Gilchrist Avenue that maximises access to public transport and nestles the stadium between two hills in a naturally occurring amphitheatre. The proposed location of Brisbane Stadium will seamlessly connect with existing transport infrastructure and allow it to be embedded into the existing topography. This position will also reduce congestion in the critical northeast zone of the park where spectator entry points converge

“It’s great to see the vision the design team has shared in January is now being tested and developed with stakeholder input. It retains the ambition of a venue that responds to place with the inclusion of technology that people will expect in a world-class venue.

“The evolving arrangement of the stadium in the park will be a key part of unlocking the connectivity of the park with the wider precinct and the city,” COX Architecture Director and Chair Richard Coulson said.

“We recognise this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the design of Brisbane Stadium, a venue that will showcase Queensland to the world while truly serving the local community every day.

“Every element of our design responds to Queensland’s unique climate and lifestyle, ensuring the stadium can accommodate not only global events, but also becomes an enduring part of the state’s daily life and legacy for generations to come,” Hassell Managing Principal Lucy O’Driscoll said.

Early preparatory works will begin in June of this year as soon as the land tenure is transferred to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA).

The new Brisbane Stadium is part of the jointly funded – Australian and Queensland Governments – $7.1 billion Games Venues Infrastructure Program and will be delivered by the GIICA.

“Exactly 12 months since the Crisafulli Government unveiled its 2032 Delivery Plan, we’ve achieved significant momentum already.

“To get the games back on track, we’ve been working calmly and methodically, but also quickly to lock in details and appointments for our 2032 and beyond venues, which will deliver generational and city shaping infrastructure and economic benefits,” QLD Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said.

“As the design work progresses over the upcoming months on the new and upgraded venues, we are seeing truly Queensland take on the traditional stadium emerge, bringing the outside in and celebrating our lifestyle and natural environment.

“It is an exciting time for the team here at the GIICA, and all of Queensland, as we work through the rigorous design process to bring these key venues to life,” Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority CEO Simon Crooks said.

Sunshine Coast Stadium

Artist impression of Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade (source: GIICA)

Following a thorough six-month selection process, Architectus has been appointed as the principal architect for the Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade.

Architectus is renowned for its Sunshine Coast design work, notably the multi-award-winning Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Early designs for the upgrade guarantee a unique fan experience by showcasing the region’s stunning natural landscape and relaxed, outdoor lifestyle in an open and organic design.

The Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade will include increasing grandstand capacity from 1,046 to more than 10,000 seats with new eastern and western grandstands, new community and event spaces, and improved player amenities and accessibility.

This project will help secure the stadium’s position as the region’s premier venue for local, national and international entertainment events. The upgrade will also maintain the Sunshine Coast Stadium’s role as the sporting heart of the community that can host a range of activities – from grassroots activity to elite training camps and national level football, rugby league and rugby union.

“We’re excited to be designing a stadium that feels like a revelation – expressing a modern, outdoor loving culture set in a landscape that’s both cinematic and authentic, capturing the future of how people want to live, gather, recreate and celebrate.

“We’ve conceived delicate, floating roof forms inspired by the Glass House Mountains, the meandering Mooloolah River and the gentle shoreline curves of Bokarina Beach.

“Breezy undercroft spaces recall the forest experiences of the coast and hinterland,” Architectus Principal Dr Stephen Long said.

Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre

Artist impression of Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre (source: GIICA)

Populous has been appointed as the principal architect for the new Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre. The global sports design firm has an impressive portfolio which includes the 2003 redevelopment of Suncorp Stadium, the Sphere in Las Vagas, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Stadium, and the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong.

The new 10,000-seat sporting facility will feature a new 12-court centre designed to serve the community well beyond the 2032 Games. It will provide flexible and accessible space that supports a diverse range of indoor sports including basketball, netball, volleyball, gymnastics, futsal, pickleball and wheelchair rugby.

The project scope also includes a cafe, players’ change rooms, more than 300 car parks, and office amenities such as meeting rooms. These features will ensure the venue is equipped to support both sporting and community needs.

“The centre has been designed to serve the community well beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Moreton Bay is one of the fastest-growing regions in Queensland.

“As one of the largest facilities of its kind in southeast Queensland, the new centre will help address the increasing community demand for indoor sports facilities in the region and will be designed by Populous with legacy in mind,” Populous Lead Architect Brayden Goodwin said.

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Queensland Government – Media Statements; Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (1, 2, 3, 4)