Westpac Stadium

While home to a number of popular theatre venues and a spectacular museum, as New Zealand's capital Wellington lacked a world class, multi-purpose facility capable of accommodating large-crowd events, including a wide variety of sporting codes, concerts, trade shows, exhibitions and conferences.

A venue on a former rail yard close to the waterfront was chosen to develop just such a facility. The Stadium Trust appointed Beca as project manager and client representative for the development, and as consultant for the provision of building services and fire engineering, geotechnical investigations, site surveying, planning and resource consenting services.

As well as the task of co-ordinating the myriad of contractors involved in the project, inherent challenges included a site on a narrow strip of re-claimed land close to a major earthquake fault line. This required four months of preparation with vibro-compactors to prevent liquefaction during an earthquake. The tight site boundaries also meant special attention had to be paid to the practicalities of moving a 34,000 plus crowd in and out of the stadium safely and ensuring the venue was well connected to the railway station, central bus depot and the waterfront.

The stadium boasts some impressive statistics including: 34,500 seats, with 22,000 under cover and 138 spaces for disabled and their carers, 68 serviced corporate boxes, a 500m² kitchen, Wellington's largest function room which can seat 1,000 and 850 carparks.

Awards:

• 2003 Bronze Award - IOC/IAKS
• 2000 Resene National Building of the Year - New Zealand Institute of Architects
• 2000 Resene Colour Award - New Zealand Institute of Architects.

Client: Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.

Project Team: Keith Paterson, Business Director - Canterbury Rebuild, New Zealand.