- Critical features and field of play elements locked in for Brisbane Stadium.
- Principal architect appointed for Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade and Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre.
- Delivery of generational infrastructure for the Games and beyond gaining major momentum just 12 months after the release of the 2032 Delivery Plan.
Key venues for the 2032 Games and beyond are racing ahead, with more elements of the centrepiece Brisbane Stadium upgrade locked in and a principal architect appointed for the Sunshine Coast Stadium and Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre.
Delivery of the key venues and generational infrastructure for the Games and beyond is gaining major momentum, just 12 months since the release of the 2032 Delivery Plan.
Brisbane Stadium
Just over two months since being appointed, the Brisbane Stadium design team of COX Architecture, Hassell and Azusa Sekkei have locked in critical features and field of play elements 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 promotors 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 for the field of play was settled after workshop discussions with AFL and Cricket Australia and analysis of sun position, 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.
Early preparatory works will commence on site from 1 June, as soon as the land tenure is transferred to GIICA.
The new Brisbane Stadium is part of the $7.1 billion Games Venues Infrastructure Program, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, and will be delivered by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA).
Sunshine Coast Stadium
Architectus has been selected as the Principal Architect for the Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade after a rigorous six-month selection process.
Early designs for the stadium upgrade promise a unique fan experience, showcasing the region's stunning natural landscape and relaxed, outdoor lifestyle in an open, organic design.
Upgrades to Sunshine Coast Stadium include a tenfold increase in 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.
The capacity uplift will secure the stadium's position as the region's premier venue for local, national and international entertainment events, as well as maintaining its role as the sporting heart of the community, hosting grassroots activity through to elite training camps and national-level football, rugby league and rugby union.
Architectus is renowned for its Sunshine Coast design work, most notably the multi-award-winning Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre
Global sports design superstar, Populous, has been appointed Principal Architects of the new Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre.
Populous' impressive portfolio includes the 2003 redevelopment of Suncorp Stadium, the Sphere in Las Vegas, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Stadium and Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park.
The new Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre will feature 12 multi-use courts with a Games capacity for 10,000 spectators.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the Australian Government's investment in sporting and community infrastructure across Queensland woyld 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," Minister King said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said exactly 12 months since the Crisafulli Government unveiled its 2032 Delivery Plan, the government had 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."
Federal Minister for Communications and Sport Anika Wells said the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games were 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," Minister Wells said.
"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."
GIICA CEO Simon Crooks said as the design work progressed over the upcoming months on the new and upgraded venues, the state was seeing a truly Queensland take on the traditional stadium emerge, bringing the outside in and celebrating the state's lifestyle and natural environment.
"It is an exciting time for the team here at GIICA, and all of Queensland, as we work through the rigorous design process to bring these key venues to life."
COX Architecture Director and Chair Richard Coulson said it was great to see the vision the design team had 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," Mr Coulson said.
"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."
Hassell Managing Principal Lucy O'Driscoll said the firm recognised this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead the design of Brisbane Stadium, a venue that would 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," Ms O'Driscoll said.
Architectus Principal Stephen Long said the firm was excited to be designing a stadium that felt 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," Dr Long said.
Populous Lead Architect Brayden Goodwin said the had 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 South East 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," Mr Goodwin said.
