Optus Stadium

Structural Designer

Arup

Client Name

Multiplex and State Government of Western Australia

Location

Perth, Australia

PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR
Multiplex

ARCHITECT
Hassell, Cox, HKS (USA)

KEY CONTRIBUTING CONTRACTOR
BG&E

KEY CONTRIBUTING CONTRACTOR
SportEng

STEEL FABRICATOR, PRIMARY STRUCTURE
Civmec

STEEL FABRICATOR, SECONDARY STRUCTURE
Cays Engineering

IN SITU CONCRETE
CASC

PRECAST CONCRETE
Permacast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A new 60,000 capacity stadium and sports park, built with a ‘fans first’ focus. A total of 50,000m³ of concrete and 15,500 tonnes of structural steel were used to construct the five-tier stadium. A bronze facade is made of anodised aluminium to reflect Western Australia’s unique geology.

Judge's comment:
The Optus Stadium roof is a very well considered piece of engineering full of small touches that greatly enhance the structural form; from the omission of diagonals between the two bottom chords of each truss, and the minimal arches between trusses to support the PTFE fabric roof that is installed below the main roof structure, to the way in which the fabric was integrated with the steelwork during erection. The result of this detailed approach is a stadium roof cantilevering 35m over the seats below that looks effortless but belies the expert engineers’ analysis and craft that produced it and the engineers involved can be applauded for their handling of this elegant structure.