US to design Perth indoor stadium

The WA Government will rely on architectural expertise from the US to ensure its proposed $160 million multi-purpose indoor stadium is built on time and on budget.

Housing and Works Minister Fran Logan will announce today he has awarded a contract to design the new 14,000-seat stadium to a consortium of architects comprising Perth-based Cameron Chisholm and Nicol, Melbourne firm Ashton Raggatt McDougall and US group RTKL.

The firms which missed out included Perth-based Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland, which had worked on the original stadium plan for construction group Multiplex. In a surprise move, the Government ditched that long-running private process in September and decided to spend $160 million building its own stadium from scratch.

Unlike Cox, the two Australian firms in the consortium selected by Mr Logan have no experience in designing stadiums or sporting facilities, apart from the Burswood Dome.

However, Mr Logan said RTKL had international experience in designing entertainment arenas and a proven ability to fast-track projects. Those skills are needed because the Government wants to have the new multi-purpose stadium designed and built in time for the 2009 Hopman Cup. He said the stadiums designed by RTKL included the Staples Centre in California, which is home to the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team.

Mr Logan said the Department of Housing and Works would work with the selected architects to complete the design of the new stadium - which will have a retractable roof - by June. He said the preferred location of the new stadium remained the Northbridge Link site west of the Perth Entertainment Centre.

While construction costs are continuing to escalate in WA, Mr Logan said he was confident the stadium could be delivered within the Government's $160 million budget.

He said that estimate was based on similar venues in the Eastern States. Cameron Chisholm design director Dominic Snellgrove said the stadium could be integrated with retail and hospitality outlets in an area earmarked for a significant urban renewal once the Northbridge rail line was sunk.

"It has the potential to accommodate significantly more activity, especially at street level," Mr Snellgrove said.

"It could be a very powerful force for positive change in that area."

MARK DRUMMOND
The West Australian