Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the oldest and largest capacity sporting grounds in the world. Populous worked as part of a team with five other architects on this redevelopment, ensuring the stadium was designed to meet current standards, while maintaining the ground’s inherited traditions.
The stadium is open and transparent, with views back to the city and into Yarra Park. Each of the three entrances features a grand glass atrium, serviced by escalators taking patrons to the upper levels, and the new hybrid roof is constructed of metal and glass. Sightlines from all 100,000 seats are uninterrupted and the structure is much closer to the field of play than the stands it replaced. A major feature of the redevelopment is the relocation and expansion of the Australian Gallery of Sport as part of the new National Sports Museum, a seven-day attraction featuring interactive devices and a museums precinct.
The “G,” as it is colloquially known to Melbournians, is the home of the AFL Grand Final and the Boxing Day Cricket Test, two of the biggest events of the yearly Australian sporting calendar.
Awards
- 2008 National Commendation for Public Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects National Awards