QUEENSLAND COUNTRY BANK STADIUM
40 www.stadia-magazine.com March 2020 This provides the strength needed to resist cyclonic
wind loads while also giving flexibility to allow the
canopy roof to expand and contract with tropical
temperature fluctuations.
“There’s a prevailing north-easterly afternoon
breeze so we rotated the bowl 25º to open up the
northern end to naturally regulate temperatures in the
stadium. Also, the combination between metal deck
and a stretched membrane provides alternative
insulation against intense heat,” describes Coulson.
“The stadium’s unfurled pandanus roof design is
fitted with low energy LED sports and broadcast
lighting, which eliminates the need for light towers
and provides unobstructed panoramic views to the city,
Castle Hill and Magnetic Island,” he says.
“We were able to get the lights on a gantry at the
leading edge of the roof with the right casting angle for
the pitch with corner lighting suspended underneath.
It’s a very elegant and sculptural solution that creates an
openness for greater engagement with the bowl from
the concourse and removes some of the light pollution.”
The canopy’s sweeping curves shade 75% of seating,
including generous overhangs for the concourse and
main entry, which is integral to the stadium’s success.
“Its form was essential to the elegant expression of
the stadium but also combines structural, functional
and operational aspects of modern design with
engagement of the environment that is quintessentially
Queensland,” Coulson adds.
Best of three
The stadium will host three rectangular sports – rugby
league, rugby union and soccer – with the added
flexibility to accommodate a range of alternative
entertainment events including concerts and the 2020
NQ Games opening ceremony, which is the largest
multi-sport event in regional Australia.
The stadium has a 25,000-seat double-tiered
capacity, which is 7,000 more than the Cowboys’
previous home, with the option to expand to 30,000
seats in future. It can also accommodate 40,000 patrons
in concert mode.
Due to Townsville’s extreme tropical climate, the
stadium owners opted to install Camatic Seating’s
Axiom system, which was thoroughly tested by local
exposure laboratory Allunga for durability, reveals
Camatic’s engineering manager Bruce Ansell.
Main: Country Bank Stadium’s
multi-use setup has the flexibility
to host three rectangular sports
and also entertainment events
Top left: Materials have been used
to address the challenges of North
Queensland’s tropical climate
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