Queensland Country Bank Stadium

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Queensland Country Bank Stadium is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. The award-winning 25,000-plus-seat stadium was a joint effort as part of the Townsville City Deal to invest in local infrastructure and elevate the vibrance and liveability of the city. The project was developed in collaboration between Cox Architecture and Counterpoint Architects, alongside Besix Watpac, under the guidance of the Queensland Government, the Australian Government, and the Townsville City Council.
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𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: Located in Townsville, a coastal town in North Queensland, the project presented a unique set of design challenges, namely the likelihood of exposure to extreme weather conditions and corrosion. The stadium’s footprint is located on the banks of Ross Creek, a saltwater estuarine inlet that necessitated the use of corrosion-resistant materials. Another key design priority for the project was to create an inner-city stadium that could be used year-round despite the unpredictability of tropical climate conditions. This meant the roof design and structure were integral to achieving a functional outcome for the local Townsville community.
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𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺: The stadium's design incorporates the form of the Pandanus tree, creating a unique sense of place and symbolism for the North Queensland region. The V-shaped nature of the Pandanus leaf inspired the roof design, offering the structural strength and flexibility required to withstand the wind loads of cyclonic weather events. Collaboration between the architectural and engineering teams culminated in a roof structure capable of responding to extreme wind conditions without compromising on design aesthetics. In fact, the stadium is a notable addition to the city skyline. To further enhance the usability of the stadium, architects imagined a horseshoe-shaped bowl design facing north towards the city, offering patrons welcome breezes through the Stadium.
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𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗖𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 - 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Despite the complex roof geometry, the design vision was made a reality with the strength and flexibility of UniCote® Coastal. A steel roof is susceptible to the elements along cut edges. The addition of magnesium to the standard zinc/aluminium alloy at elevated coating weights offers a unique protective metal coating. Over time, zinc flows over the cut edges, initiating a sacrificial anti-corrosive reaction that creates a seal. Crafted to defy the elements, Unicote® Coastal offers exceptional corrosion resistance and weather endurance, making it the ideal solution for the contextual needs of the project.
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𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀: Although Unicote® Coastal offers an extensive range of colours, the project utilised the shade Off White. The quintessential warm white lends itself beautifully to large-scale architectural projects that stand prominently within urban environments. The Off-White colourway also places greater emphasis on the geometric nature of the design and the corrugated profile of the steel.
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𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: There’s no question that Queensland Country Bank Stadium sits proudly in the coastal Townsville landscape and will be home to iconic sporting and entertainment events for decades to come. Being named Project of the Year at the Master Builders North Queensland Housing & Construction Awards, Queensland Country Bank Stadium exemplifies what is possible when innovative design meets high-performance materials.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀

• 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, Queensland Government 2021
• 𝗜𝗢𝗖 𝗜𝗔𝗞𝗦 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 for innovative and sustainable sports and leisure facilities in SILVER, 2021
• 𝗜𝗣𝗖 𝗜𝗔𝗞𝗦 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 2021
• 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, Australian Institute of Architects, Queensland Chapter, 2021
• 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 - 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲, Minister's Award for Urban Design, 2021
• 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, Australian Institute of Architects, North Queensland Regional Awards, 2021
• 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, Urban Development Institute of Australia, 2021
• 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 & 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, Urban Development Institute of Australia QLD, 2021
• 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, Consult Australia Awards for Excellence, 2020