The highly anticipated world-class Optus Stadium (originally named Perth Stadium) has long been considered a major part of the regeneration programme to optimise the infrastructure of Western Australia’s capital city.
When it opened in January 2018, Optus Stadium became the third largest stadium in Australia and is capable of seating up to 60,000 people. Located in the eastern suburb of Burswood, the chosen site planned for optimal integration with the expansion of Perth’s public transport system. Whilst the stadium’s prime use is to host the AFL, as the new home of the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles Football Clubs, it also acts as an impressive venue for sporting events and concerts.
Optus Stadium is designed with an understanding of community and togetherness, with the oval shape of the stadium representing the unity of the crowd. In fact, the stadium, a collaboration between architects Hassell, Cox and HKS, was designed with a unique ‘fans first’ mentality. The stadium’s seating bowl maximises the atmosphere, giving fans exceptional views and bringing them closer to the action.
Given the bowl nature of the stadium’s seating, the building required a slim insulation solution capable of meeting the limited space allocation while still delivering on the high energy efficiency requirements of the project resulting in Kingspan’s Soffit Board being chosen for the project.
The building has a number of unique and carefully considered features. The facility’s bronze façade reflects the Western Australia’s unique geology by day, and by night LED lighting weaves home-team colours through the stadium, putting fans first once again. A lightweight fabric roof covers 85% of seats and responds to Perth’s climatic conditions.