Kia Arena at Melbourne Park

Kia Arena made its debut as the ‘people’s court’ during this year’s Australian Open. The ease with which it was adopted by spectators, players and personnel alike is a testament to its success as a public building. It was no surprise to hear quad wheelchair player Dylan Alcott state his preference for the court and say he couldn’t wait to play on it in front of a full crowd. Our concept for the arena draws heavily from its central location in the Melbourne Park Precinct with a focus on the user experience and integration into the surrounding public realm. With a modest height compared to the surrounding venues and infrastructure, its full size and capacity is only revealed upon entering from a series of entry passages surrounding the court. This sense of intrigue is strengthened by the glimpses of colour allowed through these entries. We worked with RWA Sports Architecture to ensure that internally, the arena focusses on the action in the field of play at its centre. Each element; from the bowl profile, the seating layout, roof cover to the back of house circulation spaces was designed for an equal, in-the-round patron experience. Universal access was a key driver at every stage of the design process. Entrance from the concourse level ensures that the accessible and enhanced amenity seating is in the prime viewing spot. At least one percent of all the seats in the arena are wheelchair accessible, which is a rare achievement. From the outside, the arena it is defined by two distinct bands. The base: a solid, polished plaster volume is disrupted only for programmatic elements. Entrances present as recessed alcoves, concealing the doors from the expressed base. Shopfront tenancies interrupt the full height material treatment and the regular pattern of entries cut straight through the base volume to reveal its colourful interior. Above the lower band sits a textured crown. With a 2 to 1 ratio to the lower section, it is uniformly clad in what appears to be a continuous, concertina of steel. The folded, paper-like appearance of the façade as it wraps around the extent of the arena subtly changes colour throughout the day. The steel cantilever of the roof balances maximum weather coverage against steel tonnage. We achieved the highest standard of broadcast sports lighting requirements by fine-tuning a solution for the leading edge of the cantilever to integrate the LED lighting. Kia Arena is designed for year-round use as a multipurpose events space. A removable section of seating allows for the introduction of a stage while service provisions to the bowl wall and roof line allow for multiple event setups. The facilities at court level have been designed as fully functioning and universally accessible artist amenities. Loading and unloading is done via dedicated access pathways from the precinct’s central logistics hub. Sustainability consideration can be found in the attention to patron comfort, with perforated facades and soffits allowing airflow across the bowl while insulation minimises excessive heat build-up and radiation.