AAMI Park Case Study

AAMI PARK The roof structure allows internal space to be more efficiently
used, with unobstructed sight lines. The roof geometry is also

ARCHITECTURAL STEEL DESIGN AWARD 2010
driven by the requirement to maximise natural light and
NATIONAL AND STATE WINNER (VIC + TAS) ventilation, both for spectator comfort and the health of the
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING STEEL DESIGN AWARD 2010 playing surface.
NATIONAL AND STATE WINNER (VIC + TAS)
The structural concept and geometry allows the roof to be
ARUP, Cox Architects + Planners delivered with approximately 50% of the steel required, compared
to similar stadium roofs. Further, the shell concept allows the roof
to work with a single layer of structure, where the façade is fixed
directly to the structural frame, eliminating secondary steelwork.
Parametric modelling allowed variations in geometry to
be tested quickly to provide the most structurally efficient
form.
The roof structure is formed from 273mm diameter tubes,

rigidly connected to form shells. Each shell is bounded by
a 508mm diameter edge and front edge members, and
a 457mm diameter back edge member. The structure is
clad in a combination of aluminium, glass and louvres.
The roof structure also supports four light towers on

the corners of the stadium, with additional lighting
fixtures and services suspended below the main canopy.
Architectural merit
AAMI Park (The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium) is a purpose

built rectangular pitch stadium designed to accommodate 31,000
fans, and will host soccer, rugby league and rugby union matches.
The stadium is a world-class facility, featuring a sports campus,
elite training centre and sports administration complex.
The brief called for the stadium to achieve world standards, and Practicality in fabrication + erection
be extraordinary in terms of structure, atmosphere and spectator
experience. AAMI Park’s design allowed shells to be fabricated off site in
transportable sized sections, and erected on site on a temporary
This new stadium makes the best use of the environment in support system. Steelwork could be fabricated off site, allowing
which it is constructed. The playing arena is sunken into the works on the concrete bowl structure to progress, and shortening
structure, creating an environment similar to an amphitheatre. the construction critical path time.
The lightweight, self-supporting, bio-frame roof made up of
interconnecting triangles provides structural integrity while The design consisting of 20 individual (inter-connected)
opening up the sightlines so that spectators have uninterrupted shells allowed the contractor to appoint three separate
views.
Detailing for economy
The stadium roof is a three dimensional structure, with

twenty interdependent shells sharing the load. The
structural system consists of single surface shells (no trusses
with depth), transferring load via a combination of cantilever,
catenary, shell and arching actions. As a result, the structure is
considerably lighter and uses less steel than similar stadium roofs.
fabricators, therefore reducing fabrication and overall optimisation software together with Strand7 analysis
construction time. The design also provided some repetition to software to study the structural efficiency of the roof geometry.
simplify the construction process. Each of the four quadrants is
symmetrical, allowing repetition of cladding panel shapes and A total of 24 models were studied with variations in
sizes. shell curvatures and heights, to determine the most
efficient geometry. By optimising the structural size
required for each of the 4156 roof members, the most efficient
structure was determined, providing steel tonnage savings.
Arup used its own in-house buckling analysis to design the

structure. The structural analysis method allows complex 3D
structures to be understood by studying the local and global
buckling behaviours.
Project documentation and steelwork drawings were

generated from the parametric geometry, after
input into Bentley Structural software. The parametric
Attention to corrosion protection model was also utilised to make allowance for the self weight
deflection of the structural steelwork at the front edge of the
Steelwork corrosion protection was achieved using an roof.
“International Paint” system to provide an adequate level of
corrosion resistance while achieving the desired architectural
aesthetic.
The system comprised of:

• 75 micron Polyamide cured Epoxy
• 125 micron Polysiloxane final coat
Corrosion protection was applied off site, with final touch

ups to repair any minor surface defects during erection.
Innovation
Sustainability
The design team worked within a virtual 3D environment,
from concept stage through to construction. Parametric The efficiencies produced by the structural design process
modelling was used to define the roof structure because generated a structural steel weight of approximately 50kg/m2
of its ability to test alternative geometric configurations to (not including cladding). This steel tonnage is approximately
optimise the structural form, and to accommodate the final 50% of the steel tonnage used on stadium roofs of similar size.
preset geometry for fabrication and construction purposes.
In addition to the structural efficiencies, the stadium design also
During concept stage, initial studies of the roof and shell allows rainwater to be collected from the roof structure, for use in
geometries were undertaken in conjunction with Cox seating wash down and toilet flushing. Rainwater tanks are in and
Architects and RMIT University’s Spatial Information Architecture under the southern stand and low water-use fittings are a feature
Laboratory, using a combination of Catia models and 3D CAD. of the corporate boxes, toilets, kitchens and bars.
A parametric model was developed using Bentley’s Generative Other features decreasing the environmental footprint of the
Components software after concept design, when basic geomet- stadium include:
ric principles were agreed between Arup and Cox Architects. The
advantage of parametric modelling was the speed at which revised • The low embodied energy hollow core concrete slab upon which
geometry could be generated, and imported into the structural the stadium is built.
analysis model, in order to study structural geometric efficiencies. • The roof dips slightly to the north so it exposes the turf to the
maximum sunlight throughout the year.
The parametric modelling software created the centreline • The roof shape improves air movement over the playing surface
wireframe models, which were used by the improving turf health.
structural engineering design team, and also used
by Cox Architects for coordination and approval. Summary
Design efficiency AAMI Park utilises an innovative steel structural system to form
a stadium design which utilises minimum quantities of steel to
Arup’s structural design team utilised in-house create an efficient and economical structure as well as a unique
audience experience. The use of extensive
parametric modelling allowed for a truss-free structure
utilising a combination of cantilever, catenary, shell and
arching actions, which combine to create a distinctive aesthetic.
Project team
Architect: Cox Architects + Planners

Structural engineer: ARUP
Head building contractor: Grocon Constructors
Steel tubing supplier: Orrcon
Steel fabricator: Haywards Steel Fabrication &
Construction
GVP Fabricators
Aus Iron Industries
Eliott Engineering
Steel detailer: PlanIT Design Group, Bayside
Drafting
Coatings: International Protective Coatings

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AAMI PARK The roof structure allows internal space to be more efficiently

used, with unobstructed sight lines. The roof geometry is also

The roof structure is formed from 273mm diameter tubes,

The roof structure also supports four light towers on

AAMI Park (The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium) is a purpose

Detailing for economy

The stadium roof is a three dimensional structure, with

Arup used its own in-house buckling analysis to design the

Project documentation and steelwork drawings were

The system comprised of:

Corrosion protection was applied off site, with final touch

Architect: Cox Architects + Planners

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