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Q: How do you create legacy venues for Brisbane 2032?
Designing a venue for an event like Brisbane 2032 isn’t just about delivering for that one moment in time, it’s about creating a lasting legacy for the community. Multi-use venues need to support a wide range of activities beyond the initial event. For Brisbane 2032, this means thinking about how a venue will serve the local community for the next 50 years.
That could involve ensuring a stadium can be easily adapted for other sports, concerts, or community events. For example, if the venue is likely to host concerts, the roof structure must be designed to handle the loads required to hang many different arrangements of staging and lighting, not just a videoboard in the centre. The key is balancing the requirements of the Games with the long-term needs of the city.
Q: What lessons from Marvel Stadium could apply to Brisbane 2032 venues?
Marvel Stadium in Melbourne is a great example of designing for community legacy. When it was first built in 2000, it sat isolated, essentially a concrete box in the middle of what was then an undeveloped area. Over time, the Docklands precinct grew around it, and the stadium had to evolve.
The recent redevelopment wasn’t about adding more seats or changing the field of play, it was about opening the stadium up to the city. We created outdoor decks, bars, cafes, and spaces that connect the venue to the surrounding community. It is fast becoming a place people use every day, not just during events.
This thinking is vital for Brisbane 2032 infrastructure planning. Stadiums shouldn’t just be built for the Games, they should be designed to enhance the precincts they’re in and serve people for decades to come.
Q: How do you balance major event overlay requirements with long-term community use?
When designing for major events like Brisbane 2032 or the Commonwealth Games, there’s a delicate balance between including temporary elements as part of the event overlay and what should go into the permanent base build.
It’s important to ask: What will the community need in five years? In 20 years? The elements that will still be relevant long after the Games should be built into the base design. Anything that’s temporary or highly specialised for the Games can become part of the overlay works. This approach helps avoid creating white elephants and ensures venues stay useful and relevant.
Q: What role has Aurecon played in Melbourne Park’s evolution?
Aurecon has been a trusted advisor to the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust for many years. We’ve worked on projects across Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, John Cain Arena, Kia Arena, the National Tennis Centre, and AAMI Park.
These venues are constantly evolving. For example, the demand for bigger, more complex shows means the roof structures need to support heavier loads. We’re currently helping Melbourne Park figure out how to increase the roof load capacities to meet this demand.
This kind of problem-solving, keeping venues adaptable and future-proofed, is exactly the mindset needed for Brisbane 2032 precincts.
Q: Can you share an example of innovation in sports infrastructure design?
One unique project was designing suspended tennis courts at the National Tennis Centre in Melbourne, something no other Grand Slam venue has. Tennis courts are usually at ground level, so there was no existing design standard for controlling vibrations in suspended courts.
We worked with professional tennis players to measure dynamic responses, things like the loads generated from serves, smashes, and running volleys. Using that data, we developed a design criterion that’s now published internationally and is being used as a reference for suspended tennis court designs worldwide.
Q: How does Aurecon approach operable roof design?
Aurecon has a strong track record in operable roofs across Australia. We and my colleague John Leech have worked on all the large operable roof venues in Australia including Marvel Stadium, John Cain Arena, and Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne and RAC Arena in Perth. We’ve also worked on upgrades to Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park.
A memorable project was upgrading the Rod Laver Arena roof. Originally, it took 33 minutes to close, which was a problem during rain delays. We redesigned it to close in under five minutes – a game-changer for operations. Now, during a change of ends or an ad break, the roof can be closed quickly enough to keep the court dry and avoid long interruptions for the broadcasters. For Brisbane 2032 venues, these kinds of innovations in operational efficiency will be crucial.
Q: What experience does Aurecon have managing large, complex sports and entertainment projects?
I've had the privilege of leading some fantastic teams on projects both in Australia and internationally. Some of the projects include the MCG and projects in New Zealand, the USA, India, China, Qatar and Indonesia.
I’ve had the opportunity to lead large teams on complex projects like Lusail Stadium in Qatar. We had over 350 people working across 13 Aurecon offices globally. It was an extremely fast-tracked project, which meant keeping everyone aligned and informed was critical.
I've been involved in one of the biggest aquatic and sports centres in Australia, which is the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre. We did both stage one and stage two, which were completed just in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2006.
Success is about understanding the client’s drivers, sometimes even before they fully articulate them and then bringing them along on that journey. That collaborative approach and trust on all sides is key for Games infrastructure delivery.
Q: What do you think is the best project delivery model for Brisbane 2032 infrastructure?
We’re comfortable working under a range of delivery models, whether that’s managing contractor, architect-led, design-led, builder-led, ECI or D&C. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. The best model is the one that suits the client and the project at the time. For major projects, the engineers can be procured independent of the architects – it might mean a bit more admin upfront, but it ensures the client gets the best consultant team for their project.
We have no real objection to any delivery methodology and part of my role would be to make sure that everyone's aware of the advantages and disadvantages and once we're within the delivery mode then understanding what we're signed up for and making sure we deliver on it.
Q: How does Aurecon ensure quality and innovation across global projects?
At Aurecon, we have a long-span structures group that meets monthly, with representation across Australia and Asia. We share project intel, peer review designs, and bring the best ideas to the table, regardless of where we’re located.
If someone’s working on a stadium in Bangkok or Brisbane, they can tap into this group for expert input. We’re mobile and ready to go wherever the project is, bringing together the right people for the job.
I think that's a strength of Aurecon's that we do have clever people, and we bring the right people to the project from wherever they're situated.
Aurecon is not a sponsor of the Australian Olympic Committee Incorporated, the International Olympic Committee, any Summer or Winter Olympic Games, the organising committee for any Summer or Winter Olympic Games, an Australian Olympic team, a section of an Australian Olympic team, or an individual member of an Australian Olympic team. This material is not intended to suggest that Aurecon has any formal association with, or has provided any sponsorship or sponsorship-like support for, any of these parties.
Technical Director, Buildings – VIC & SA, Australia
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