National Rugby Training Centre, Ballymore

Designed by Blight Rayner Architects, the Queensland Rugby Union’s new high-performance centre boasts an integrated 3,010-seat stand which replaces the existing McLean Stand to become the centrepiece of the Ballymore elite sports precinct.

The construction methodology was managed from the western side to ensure that the main playing field remained operational throughout the 2022/23 season. Our scope included:

• The inground, civil and substructure works, constructed to ensure the overall building sits above flood level
• Two floors topped off with large steel truss members to complete the cantilevered roof over the precast seating structure
• Internally the facility consists of:
  • high-end double storey lobby and auditorium space
  • three player locker rooms and amenities
  • medical treatment rooms
  • recovery area with pools and sauna
  • high performance gym
  • sand carpet playing field
  • commercial and sports administration offices
  • multi-functional office and event spaces
• Externally the area surrounding the centre has been relandscaped and the adjacent sporting field has been reconstructed to an enlarged footprint with improved drainage suitable for high performance training

Offsite fabrication played a crucial role in the construction process including pre-cast seating platforms. Similarly, the James Hardie soffit cladding panel was prefinished and painted offsite, resulting in a superior finish and a 20-year warranty.

The National Rugby Training Centre is a remarkable facility, combining high-performance training areas and function capabilities, delivered on time and on budget in collaboration with Queensland Rugby Union, and State and Federal Governments.