QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM
North Queensland
Country Bank Stadium is
the fi rst world-class venue
to be built in Australia’s
northeast in 25 years and
the only multi-purpose
facility of its kind in the
region. Stadia takes a
closer look under its
cyclone-proof roof
N orth Queensland Country Bank Stadium
has been more than a decade in the
making having first arrived on the
political agenda in 2009, following an
analysis of Townsville’s existing stadium
as part of Australia’s bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Its completion represents a milestone for the state,
which has a wider policy to upgrade venues rather
than build new. As a joint project of the Queensland
Government, Australian Government and Townsville
City Council, its construction is supported by the
National Rugby League (NRL) and the stadium’s
primary tenant, the North Queensland Cowboys.
The new stadium features an iconic horseshoeshaped
roof that was inspired by the strap-like tapered
leaves of the native pandanus plant. Its cantilevered
form was specially designed and engineered to
withstand the rigors of Townsville’s cyclonic conditions
explains Richard Coulson, director at Cox Architecture.
“Wind loads in the city are approximately 50%
higher than in Brisbane and 100% higher than in
Sydney. As a result, the weight of steel needed for the
build had to be proportionate to these loads while still
maintaining its design integrity,” he says.
In place of traditional trusses, folded plates were
used to achieve the roof ’s unique geometry. Peaked
sections were formed using 36 steel trusses that were
clad in a durable weather, fire and UV resistant fabric.
Flat metal infill sections were then installed in between
each truss.
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www.stadia-magazine.com March 2020
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