Perth Arena raises the roof!

The mega trusses that will support the operable and fixed roof span of Perth Arena have been jacked into place.

Each mega truss is 132 metres long and 10 metres high, containing almost 3000 tonnes of steel!

Further details on Perth Arena can be found on our client VenuesWest’s website.

(Images copyright Martin Farquharson Photography 2010)

The project is a joint venture by ARM and Cameron Chisholm Nicol.

Premier's Design Awards

The Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre have been shortlisted for the 2010 Premier's Design Awards.

The awards are one of four main programs in the State of Design Festival, July 14-25. The theme of this year's festival is Change By Design.

The awards identify the most exciting applications of design, recognising original, sustainable, innovative and groundbreaking design in and from Victoria, and celebrating the contribution of design to business excellence.

ARM on the road

Southern Way has formed a unique partnership with the McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park which will culminate in a major sculpture being installed at the Peninsula Link/EastLink interchange – or the Peninsula Portal as it will be known.

In a first for a road project in Victoria, two other sculpture pieces will be rotated every four years based on the winners of a bi-annual sculpture competition. This will provide a great opportunity to showcase the McClelland Gallery and to support the thriving arts community on the Peninsula.

ARM has designed three different styles of noise wall panels for the project. Mostly located in the northern half of Peninsula Link, the ‘text type’ noise walls (pictured) will feature place names from the local area, while along the route a ‘geology’ pattern will also be visible on some walls inspired by rock formations or impressions left in sand. Finally, oxidised steel panels in a zigzag pattern will complement suburban roof tops in the distance.

Work is underway on Melbourne’s newest freeway project after Victorian Premier John Brumby and Roads Minister Tim Pallas turned the first sod on the $759 million toll-free Peninsula Link in mid-February. Early works started last July and now Southern Way, along with its construction contractor Abigroup, has started on the main works.

Further information on the Peninsula Link can be found on the Linking Melbourne website.

Spotlight on Perth Arena interiors

The designs for the interiors of Perth Arena have been revealed.

Design Director Howard Raggatt said the aim was to reinvent the perception of a standard arena to make something that would become a beacon for the city.

“Our inspiration started with the Roundhouse in Fremantle, the designs of Middle Ages and Renaissance Ideal City drawings, and the Eternity Puzzle – like the Roundhouse, a 12-sided puzzle. Perth Arena has been designed to provoke symbolic interpretation, create direct visual responses from all approaches, and become an integral part of the city’s overall urban design and architectural strategy.”

Perth Arena will bring to Western Australia a new raft of entertainment acts that will perform in a space the quality of which has not been experienced before in Perth. Australia’s top promoters are already talking to VenuesWest about future shows for Perth audiences. The Hyundai Hopman Cup will benefit from the retractable roof (providing Australian Open conditions for players), Plexipave court surfacing, stunning corporate suites and function areas, comfortable spectator seating and ample green room space for players.

Sitting within the new Northbridge Link precinct, the Perth Arena will form an integral part of Perth’s revitalisation.

The project is a joint venture by ARM and Cameron Chisholm Nicol.

Hamer Hall reimagined

The concept design for Stage One of the Southbank Cultural Precinct Redevelopment has been revealed.

The new designs for Hamer Hall open the building up to the river bank and St Kilda Rd. The design is a radical rethink of the 30 year old building that will increase access while maintaining its heritage features.

The design incorporates a second entry to the Hall at the river level. The plan is to demolish the existing terrace and build a new terrace that allows light into the river level; to create a new 'civic stair' and a 24-hour lift from the river to St Kilda Road, and to bring a whole new section of the Yarra bank back to life with a range of entertainment options.

In addition to the external remodelling, the interior of Hamer Hall will be extensively redeveloped, including improvements to the auditorium, foyers and backstage.

ARM is the appointed architect to the project in association with Peter Elliott Architecture + Urban Design. Further details of our project partners are available from Arts Victoria.

Construction is scheduled to start in July 2010.

2010-A-MRC+MTC launched

Thanks to everyone who came along to the launch of our new publication on the Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre. It was great to see so many friends and colleagues at the event.

Many thanks to Juliana Engberg, Artistic Director of ACCA, for her very entertaining launch speech.

Our sincere gratitude goes to the writers and photographers for their wonderful contributions, without which of course there would be no publication!

And thanks to Loop bar for hosting us.

2010-A-MRC+MTC is available for free in the Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre foyers. It is also available from Architext bookshop.

Architecture Now!

ARM is proud to feature in both of the latest editions in Taschen's Architecture Now! series.

Albury Library/Museum appears in Museums and the Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre in Public Architecture Now!, as reviewed recently by The Guardian.