State-of-the-art cycling complex in Queensland

Experience ensures success

Through collaboration with key design consultants and stakeholders, we conducted extensive risk management and value engineering workshops to meet budget without compromising the design intent and functionality. BESIX Watpac provided a comprehensive list of options and priorities to value engineer the scope of work and design brief. One such initiative was identifying and reducing the number of high-risk trades on site, which had both safety and cost benefits. Another safety initiative was to manufacture a number of materials off-site to reduce the risk of hazards on site. 

A unique challenge

From a design perspective, the greatest challenge of this project was the velodrome’s structure. The combination of the hyperbolic paraboloid roof, known affectionately as a “Pringle chip”, and the tessellated wall design created a significant number of design detailing issues. Drawing on our experience constructing the Cbus Super Stadium at Robina, a highly durable, fire resistant PTFE fabric was identified as the best cladding material solution to accommodate the building’s movement while being the most cost-effective. The façade’s complicated geometry and connection to the structure presented a number of detailing issues that were overcome by months of prototype modelling and collaboration with multiple parties.

A world-class track

Unlike other air-conditioned tracks around the world, the Anna Meares Velodrome relies on natural ventilation. As such, the time of year and climatic conditions during the laying of the timber was critical: if laid in winter with low humidity, the track could swell and buckle in the high humidity days of south east Queensland’s summer. To overcome this, the project team implemented a water misting system with large commercial fans. This then produced an artificial climate on the infield and track zone over the three weeks that the timber lathes were being laid. Humidity was then maintained at an optimum level of 70 per cent to protect the timber inside the building, while outside levels dropped to less than 40 per cent in the dry Queensland winter weather.   

The track was constructed from 100 per cent Siberian Spruce timber with each piece prefabricated in Germany to very specific dimensions. While this was taking place, we were building a concrete shell to match these dimensions to ensure tight timeframes were met.