Case Study: Cairns Convention Centre - A gem that celebrates its setting

In designing the expansion of the Cairns Convention Centre, COX Architecture had an opportunity to reframe and reposition the building in relation to its stunning outlooks of both the Trinity Inlet and the city’s dramatic, verdant mountain range backdrop.

The expansion created an additional 10,500 square metres of function space including an expansive undercover area featuring lush plantings and accents of Queensland timbers in the Porte Cochere; a new main entry; 450-seat plenary lecture space; three 120-seat meeting rooms; exhibition space for up to 30 display booths; a 500-seat rooftop banquet space and a sky terrace.

The curve of the building embraces the panorama, with a 130-metre-long facade featuring a sunscreen fabricated from glass reinforced concrete (GRC) that has been oriented with the aid of computer modelling to track the sun’s path and provide strategic shade to prevent excessive heat gain.

The glazed curved wall required the incorporation of a substantial number of mullions to ensure structural strength for cyclonic conditions. The vertical elements also contribute to the aesthetic of the facade externally and to the internal material language with their timber cladding created from trees cleared for mining at Weipa and reclaimed by the First Nations Traditional Owners.

Download this case study to learn more about how COX Architecture reimagined the Cairns Convention Centre.