8 November 2011 –Sustainable design featured prominently in the Gold Coast Urban Design Awards this year, with two major projects that incorporate sustainable elements, Metricon Stadium and Broadwater Parklands, receiving top awards.
The solar powered Metricon Stadium (pictured) was awarded the Helen Josephson Award for Innovation in Urban Design, while Broadwater Parklands received the Sue Robbins Award for Excellence in Urban Design and the People’s Choice Award.
The Metricon stadium underwent a $144 million redevelopment and was completed in May 2011. Engineering services for the project’s solar power system were provided by Norman Disney & Young and included five metre wide PV panelling installed over 450 metres of roofing.
The system will generate approximately 275 megawatt hours of electricity each year, 20 per cent of the stadium’s predicted energy usage.
The paneling uses sandwich glass panels, which provide visibility from below, and have cell spacing to ensure sufficient light passes through the panels to prevent a solid shadow line on the field.
Architects for the project were Populous Architects with Watpac providing building services.
Connan Brown, ESD Manager for NDY Brisbane said that “achieving a fully-integrated solar solution within a unique and iconic roof form is an outstanding aesthetic result”.
The redevelopment of the Broadwater Parklands, jointly funded by the Gold Coast Council and the Queensland Government, has rejuvenated public land, previously dominated by a large asphalt car park, into a contemporary world class foreshore park.
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The design of the parklands meshes the beauty of the natural environment with an urban overlay that reconnects the city with the waterfront, caters for events of diverse scale and provides recreational areas, the designers said.
Environmentally sustainable and water sensitive design innovations in the parklands include an urban wetland that cleanses storm water runoff before it enters the Broadwater, photovoltaic panels integrated into shade shelters to power park lighting and a children’s water-play feature that uses saltwater from the Broadwater to minimise the use of valuable potable water.
Held on September 23, the Gold Coast Urban Design Awards 2011 coincided with the 4th International Urban Design Conference 2011. Any built project in the Gold Coast City was eligible for submission.
Other winners in the awards included:
General awards
One Short Street submitted by Inarc Design Qld
The Oracle submitted by DBI
Special Mention Certificate – Space and Space Making
Surfers Paradise Foreshore submitted by Place Design Group
Special Mention Certificate – Environmental Sensitivity
Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club submitted by Arkitektika
Special Mention Certificate – Community Enhancement
Pizzey Park Community Skate Park submitted by Complete Urban
Special Mention Certificate – Community Enhancement
Australian Industry Trade College submitted by: DegenhartSHEDD
Design Education Award (Masters)
Platform C Project submitted by: Lara Nobel, University of Queensland
Design Education Commendation (Masters)
The Ocean and Surf Precinct and Transit Integration Project submitted by: David Churcher, University of Queensland
Design Education Award (Undergraduate)
Vital Connections submitted by: John Kurko, Griffith University
Design Education Commendation (Udergraduate)
Southport to Main Beach Pedestrian Bridge Link & Public Square submitted by: Chris Byron, Griffith University