Hassell, Lyons Architects, and a consortium of Woods Bagot, NH Architecture and Populous have been shortlisted for the new Administration building at Melbourne Park, home of the Australian Open.
The announcement followed from calls for Expressions of Interest by Minister for Major Projects, David Hodgett.
“As the headquarters of Tennis Australia and the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, the Administration building will be the nerve centre of this busy precinct,” said Hodgett.
“The building will also provide a home for the Australia Open’s media centre hosting hundreds of international journalists in Melbourne for the Grand Slam event.”
The Administration and Media building will be situated between the current function centre and the Jolimont rail yards, creating a new northern face for the sporting precinct that will be seen by tens of thousands of rail commuters every day.
Functionally and structurally linked to the new Function Centre, the building will have a nominal gross area of 8,700sqm.
It is part of Stage two of the $338 million redevelopment of Melbourne Park, which also includes refurbishments to Rod Laver Arena, and a footbridge over Batman Avenue.
Melbourne Park Redevelopment, Eastern Plaza. Image: Watpac
Construction on Stage two will begin after the 2015 Australian Open, which is expected to reap the benefits of Stage one works.
The $366 million first stage of the redevelopment is currently on track, and involves an extension to the south west of the external concourse surrounding the Rod Laver Arena, addition of rainwater harvesting and treatment facilities contributed by the Federal Government, and the installation of a Colorbond retractable roof over Margaret Court Arena, designed by NH Architecture and Populous.
Margaret Court retractable roof
Melbourne Park will be the only grand slam venue in the world having three courts with retractable roofs.
