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| DESCRIPTION
The Westpac Trust Stadium is a purpose-built, 34,500 spectator sports and entertainment stadium located in Wellington. The stadium is designed to accommodate both oval-shaped and rectangular-shaped sporting codes such as cricket, rugby union, rugby league, Australian football league, soccer, concerts and other entertainment events. The stadium bowl is designed around an international cricket oval to provide un-compromised spectator views to the field of play. The Westpac Trust Stadium is the world’s first purpose-built, modern cricket and rugby stadium. Traditionally cricket stadiums have been developed stand by stand, over many seasons, when budgets became available, often creating an ad-hoc development. Under the old system, member or corporate facilities were often developed first and often at the expense of general public seating which was developed last. The stadium was conceived as a single stage of development to produce a cohesive stadium in terms of aesthetics, operations and amenity with excellent facilities for all users. One of the most critical achievements of the project was the attainment of a very high standard stadium under tight budget constraints, producing one of the most cost effective and visually attractive international standard stadiums in the region.
JURY VERDICT
Like a shimmering disc on Wellington’s dramatic hill-backed caldera waterfront, the Westpac Trust Stadium adds a powerful visual experience to the New Zealand capital’s distinctive physicality and increasing urban style. Bold in its form and restrained in its materials, the stadium’s single tier continuous seating bowl is designed to produce a sense of atmosphere and enclosure, yet provide uncompromised views for spectators of both oval-shaped and rectangular-shaped sporting codes. The building’s overall structure responds to demanding earthquake and wind loadings - both crucial in Wellington - and innovations such as light-weight precast concrete helped reduce weight and simplify construction. The single seating tier concept also produced significant cost savings over traditional multi-tier solutions. The functional requirements of crowd control, circulation and amenities are organised around the main enclosed pedestrian concourse whose utilitarian simplicity provides potential for additional uses and three-dimensional development. The envelope of the building was approached from a less technical stance and its “skin” accordingly gives interest and rhythm to the large external form which is now a commanding sculptural landmark on the western edge of the central business district and government precinct. | | | | Westpac Trust Stadium, Wellington
Project Architect Andrew Magub (BVN), Roy Wilson (AWM), Alistair Richardson (LP). Design Architect Andrew Magub (BVN), Steve McCracken (AWM), Rod Sheard (LP). Project Team Angus Munro, Dean Taylor, Edmond Check (BVN), Peter Rowbotham, Ralph Roberts, Graham Boyd, Katherine Green, Chris Ainsworth, Jenny Mikoz (AWM), Matt Easton (LP). Developer Wellington Stadium Trust. Structural Consultant Holmes Consulting Group. Project Manager, Electrical Consultant, Mechanical Consultant, Hydraulic Consultant, Lighting Consultant, Acoustic Consultant, Services Consultant, Communications Consultant Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner (NZ). Interior Designer Bligh Lobb Sports Architecture, Architecture Warren and Mahoney. Pitch Consultant New Zealand Sports Turf Institute. Builder Fletcher Construction. Photography Colleen Tunnicliff. |
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