News
Date: July 31st 2008 Projects: Eden Park
The historic South Stand at Eden Park, with many memories for players and public alike, will be used for the last time this Saturday (August 2nd), when the All Blacks play the Wallabies for the Bledisloe Cup. Within hours of the referee's final whistle, the South Stand will be stripped and salvageable and interesting items removed ahead of its scheduled demolition a few days later.
The demolition is the first stage of the redevelopment of the new NZD $240M Eden Park and construction will be underway before Christmas. The new Eden Park will hold 60,000 people for the semi-finals and finals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup before being reduced to 50,000 seats in legacy mode.
Architects for the redevelopment, international stadia specialists, HOK Sport Architecture, said the project is an excellent example of the multifunctionality of an iconic major stadium. The Park is the symbolic home of both Rugby and Cricket in New Zealand and the redeveloped venue will not only host the 2011 Rugby World Cup but also the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Senior Principal Alastair Richardson said the design philosophy encourages maximum usage out of such a major piece of public infrastructure, so that it has long term sustainability. A venue essentially designed as a cricket stadium will now become New Zealand's premier rugby stadium.
"The reconfigured seating bowl at Eden Park will allow patrons to be as close to the action for both rugby and cricket. The correct design and attention to detail means multi-code stadia can meet the experience and atmosphere expectations of cricket and rugby fans alike. The key to the design has been the careful orientation and integration of an International Standard Cricket Oval and test Rugby Union Field, incorporating the latest in drop in wicket technology which also brings patrons closer to the action", said Mr Richardson.
Another key consideration has been the significant incorporation of Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) principles. Advanced lightweight recyclable cladding systems have been developed to embrace the building and provide protection to all patrons. Water harvesting and solar water heating will reduce the impact of the building on the environment and its carbon footprint.
"ESD is a serious component of design in the modern stadium. The redeveloped Eden Park is designed to minimise its impact on the local community as well as the environment," said Mr Richardson.
In New Zealand and Australia the future of multi-use major stadia for oval and rectangular sports looks promising with the proposed Perth Stadium due to be completed in 2016. This stadium will continue the development of this successful model started in Sydney at the ANZ Stadium (formerly the Olympic Stadium) and now proposed at Eden Park.
For further information please contact
Michele Fleming at HOK Sport (Brisbane)
Telephone +61 (0)7 3839 9155
Facsimilie +61 (0)7 3839 9188
Email media@hok.com.au