The availability of COLORBOND® steel in custom colours has seen it win specification for the redevelopment of an iconic Australian sporting facility.

Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena (“MCA”) has gained a ‘fifth facade’ in the form of a new roof made from COLORBOND® Metallic steel in a custom colour called Copper Penny.

The MCA redevelopment, which commenced design in 2011 and is expected to be completed in time for the 2015 Australian Open Tennis Championships, is a key Stage 1 component of the Victorian Government’s $366 million Melbourne and Olympic Parks Precinct Redevelopment being delivered by Major Projects Victoria.

The MCA redevelopment increases the capacity of the arena and adds a mechanically retractable roof to protect the venue and spectators from poor weather, allowing year-round usage while improving patron experience and enhancing back-of-house facilities

The strategic planning and design of the arena is the result of a joint venture between Melbourne’s highly regarded NH Architecture (“NHA”) and renowned international stadium designers Populous (“POP”).

COLORBOND® Metallic steel in the colour Copper Penny and the LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® profile were selected for the 12,100 square metre roof due, among other things, to form and custom colour availability.

“The arena’s operable roof is effectively the building’s fifth facade; the view from above is just as important as the view from the street,” NHA+POP said.

“The Australian Open Tennis Championships is viewed all around the world. We needed to use a material that would make the roof stand out.

“BlueScope Steel’s COLORBOND® Metallic steel was selected in the custom colour Copper Penny to provide a distinctive character on the site while complementing the neighbouring iconic stadia.

“The LYSAGHT KLIP-LOK 700 HI-STRENGTH® profile also allowed us to give the roof a bespoke finish,” NHA+POP said.

Another factor which helped COLORBOND® Metallic steel to win specification as the arena’s roofing material was its thermal efficiency, achieved through the use of BlueScope’s Thermatech® solar reflectance technology.
Its thermal efficiency will aid in reducing the effect of urban heat islands while making the arena more habitable

Combined with an increased seating capacity to 7,500 and additional spectator facilities, the redeveloped MCA will be able to host concerts, basketball and netball matches in addition to grand slam tennis matches such as the Australian Open.