Photo credit: Optus Stadium

The new Perth Stadium (known as Optus Stadium) is a 60,000 seat, world-class multi-purpose stadium designed to host a variety of sport and entertainment events including AFL, cricket, rugby codes, soccer and concerts.

Owned by the Western Australian state government, the stadium is located east of Perth’s CBD on the Burswood Peninsula overlooking the city and Swan River. The unique architectural design acknowledges Western Australia’s unique sporting, cultural and Aboriginal heritage, with the bronze façade reflecting WA’s unique geology by day. At night, a state-of-the-art LED lighting system transforms the façade into home team colours.

The stadium features a lightweight fabric roof covering 85% of seats, which has been designed to respond to Perth’s climatic conditions. Constructed by Multiplex as part of the Westadium Consortium, the project commenced in 2014 and was completed in around 36 months. Mechanical services were designed by Wood & Grieve Engineers, with MPM Group contracted to supply and install all airside services including fans, ductwork, air handling units and fan coil units.

Based in Perth with offices across the state, MPM Group is a diverse, multi-discipline mechanical services contracting firm. It comprises of three divisions specialising in HVAC installation, air conditioning/refrigeration maintenance and service, and duct /sheet metal fabrication.

Systemaire first became involved in the project with Wood & Grieve Engineers during the design phase, before assisting MPM Group during the procurement, installation and commissioning phases. “From the early design stages, the best acoustic, performance and efficiency outcomes were the governing criteria,” says Systemaire’s WA Sales Supervisor, Jeremy Feichtinger.

Having developed a long-standing relationship with MPM Group over 30 years, Systemaire was able to offer the full range of Fantech products, provide advice on alternative selections and solutions, and give technical and commissioning support where required. This led to Fantech equipment being installed into all corners of the stadium – from ticket control points and kitchens, to player locker rooms and even the vehicle infrastructure located beneath the stadium.

“JetVent fans were used throughout the Service Ring Road to assist fresh air intake on a demand driven basis,” says Jeremy. He says one of the major challenges of the project was the pace and scale of construction, which was unlike any other project. Systemaire’s ability to meet the demands of the project was appreciated by MPM Group. “They were able to make timed deliveries as required to the Optus Stadium site and kept accurate tracking records for all fans and attenuators that we required,” says MPM Group Project Manager, Scott Woodcock.

“They were also able to reduce the turn around on some equipment when we were under pressure to deliver kitchen fans and attenuators to 39 kitchens in under six weeks.

” The new Optus Stadium hosted its first major sporting event – a cricket one-day international match - on January 28 and has since played host to the Big Bash League, AFL, AFLW, Rugby League and a music concert.