{"id":46453,"date":"2025-05-29T04:05:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T04:05:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/projects\/designing-macquarie-point-multipurpose-stadium\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T00:10:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T04:10:52","slug":"designing-macquarie-point-multipurpose-stadium","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/projects\/designing-macquarie-point-multipurpose-stadium\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

\n Through innovative design, the Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium (Mac Point) is set to redefine Tasmania\u2019s landscape as the go-to premier sports and entertainment destination. The future home of Tasmania\u2019s AFL team, Mac Point, will be more than a stadium, it\u2019ll serve as a cultural landmark for community sporting spirit and pride. Integrating sustainable design solutions, the stadium will leave a legacy of economic growth, environmental sustainability, and exceptional fan experience for generations to come. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Revitalising Macquarie Point<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Designed to accommodate 23,000 spectators with a future expansion capacity, this landmark infrastructure project will transform the Macquarie Point precinct into a vibrant cultural and commercial hub. The stadium\u2019s unique design features a translucent ETFE cushion roof supported by a timber and steel frame and a distinctive fa\u00e7ade informed by local traditions. It embraces cutting-edge engineering and sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Render\r\n
Render of the Gate 1 Entry to the new Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium, Tasmania’s premier sporting and entertainment facility.<\/em><\/sub><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s expected to generate $2.2 billion in economic benefits over 25 years, creating long-term employment opportunities and serving as a catalyst for strengthened transport infrastructure to better connect communities and unlock further development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ArchTam, in partnership with COX + Cumulus Architects and world-renowned stadium roof designer Schlaich Bergermann Partner (sbp), is delivering multidisciplinary engineering services<\/a> for the project. Together, we are shaping a venue that will elevate Tasmania\u2019s global profile and attract high-profile events, concerts, exhibitions and sporting fixtures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Design excellence rooted in place<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the design process, the project team considered the location\u2019s history, surrounding spaces, user needs and the desire to create a truly exceptional fan experience. The stadium\u2019s low-profile built form and woven-style fa\u00e7ade design pay homage to the site\u2019s cultural and industrial past. Informed by the Palawa community, the design reflects the traditional practice of weaving, symbolising the interconnection of cultures, stories and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Render\r\n
Render of the heritage-listed Goods Shed Relocation. Given a new lease on life, the restored Goods Shed is set to become a vibrant community hub.<\/em><\/sub><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A key feature of the precinct is the restoration of Hobart\u2019s heritage-listed Goods Shed<\/a>. Reimagined as a dynamic venue for markets, performances and hospitality, the design of the Shed seamlessly integrates old and new, preserving its legacy while supporting the city\u2019s thriving cultural scene. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our environmental<\/a> team led the decontamination of the former industrial site, providing critical insights into its site-specific geotechnical conditions, including soft soils, boulders, and underlying rock. This informed the stadium\u2019s structural design for resilience and constructability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iconic engineering innovation and collaboration <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of Macquarie Point\u2019s design is its iconic dome roof, an elegant, fully roofed structure that balances spectator comfort with optimal conditions for airflow and sunlight penetration for natural grass growth. The design team developed a highly efficient structure with primary elements in steel and secondary timber members supporting the ETFE cladding. The elegant design seamlessly blends into its surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Render\r\n
Render of inside the new Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium, home of Tasmania’s future AFL team, featuring its iconic and highly efficient dome roof.<\/em><\/sub><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n

To meet the project\u2019s tight planning timelines, we developed, with spb, a roof options matrix and used advanced digital workflows, for rapid decision-making and clear visual communication with stakeholders. This collaborative, parametric approach extended across all disciplines, for seamless integration of architectural intent and engineering performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Extensive optioneering for informed, cost-effective decision making<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our extensive optioneering throughout the design process has enabled the team’s success. Early in the design, we used collaborative scripting of geometries to integrate architectural development and engineering feedback. As the design progressed, option papers were produced to enable cost-effective, performance-driven decisions and foster agility in responding to client and stakeholder needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability and future readiness for Macquarie Point<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA)<\/a> does not have a dedicated rating tool for stadia, we\u2019re proactively collaborating with the GBCA to develop a tailored framework for this building typology utilising the Green Star Buildings rating tool. Our design integrates known Green Star parameters to allow the project to pursue a rating. A key focus has been on embodied carbon reduction from the earliest concept stages. This approach has enabled the accurate monitoring and reduction of embodied carbon throughout the design process, notably influencing the structural bowl raker system through embodied carbon considerations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timber plays a central role in the stadium\u2019s sustainability strategy. Locally sourced timber is used in secondary roof elements, fa\u00e7ade mullions, and cladding, demonstrating innovation in material application and a commitment to regional economic development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

State-of-the-art digital design for performance and comfort<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CFD modelling was instrumental in optimising spectator comfort, a main design driver for Macquarie Point Multipurpose Stadium. By analysing airflow, wind direction and thermal performance, the team fine-tuned fa\u00e7ade opening and roof geometry to ensure a comfortable environment year-round.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parametric optimisation guided the roof-bowl interface, enabling efficient repetition and simplicity in construction. The roof\u2019s geometry, derived from a torus, ensures uniformity in connections and intersections, simplifying construction while achieving architectural distinction. The interface of the roof and bowl was also optimised by assessing parametrically generated roof geometries to determine the most efficient option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interaction between the roof structure and cladding elements on the grass growth, spectator comfort and pitch shadows required constant optimisation and integration of various software packages. The team developed interoperability between software that allowed for streamlined option assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Render\r\n
Render of the Gate 3 Entry to the stadium, which will serve as a cultural landmark for community sporting spirit and pride.<\/em><\/sub><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Global expertise, local impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our integrated design approach for Macquarie Point, which leads all engineering disciplines and is anchored by a strong architectural team, COX + Cumulus, as principal consultant, has facilitated the project’s success. All engineering disciplines are highly integrated, ensuring holistic thinking and cross-disciplinary collaboration. This is underpinned by collaborative behaviours within the site office, seamless digital workflows and an agile design team. Our co-located team in Hobart is deeply connected to the project\u2019s purpose and its potential to shape the city\u2019s future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also drew on the expertise of ArchTam Hunt<\/a>, one of the largest stadium builders in the U.S, to validate constructability and programme assumptions. Their insights provided valuable assurance to the client and enhanced the project\u2019s delivery strategy. <\/p>\n

We’re creating global sports infrastructure that doesn\u2019t cost the earth. Find out more.<\/a> <\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":881,"featured_media":46459,"template":"","tags":[],"city":[],"class_list":["post-46453","project","type-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/46453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/project"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/881"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/46453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46454,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project\/46453\/revisions\/46454"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46453"},{"taxonomy":"city","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/city?post=46453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}