A key step has been reached regarding the expansion of the Sunshine Coast’s main stadium, which is set to host events of the 2032 Games.
The state Department of Infrastructure and Planning, along with the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority, released a delivery plan update on Wednesday, detailing the progress that’s been made on planned venues.
It included the announcement of the principal architect for the Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade, along with an early design concept.
Architectus, best known for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, has been chosen for the project, after a six-month selection process.
The delivery plan update stated that the company’s design vision for the stadium draws inspiration from the region’s organic forms.
“A curved floating roofline echoes the ripples of sand and rolling waves, while open concourses and shaded outdoor rooms reflect the relaxed rhythm of coastal living,” it stated.
Architectus principal Stephen Long said their design vision is to “cement the Sunshine Coast’s identity on the world stage.”
“We’ve conceived delicate, floating roof forms inspired by the Glass House Mountains, the meandering Mooloolah River and the gentle shoreline curves of Bokarina Beach. Breezy undercroft spaces recall the forest experiences of the coast and hinterland,” he said in the update.
Architectus group director communities Mark van den Enden said the venue would suit the area.
“We’re excited to be designing a stadium that feels like a revelation, expressing a modern, outdoor-loving culture set in a landscape that’s both cinematic and authentic, capturing the future of how people want to live, gather, recreate and celebrate,” he said.
The upgrades include a ten-fold increase in grandstand capacity from 1046 to more than 10,000 seats with new eastern and western grandstands, new community and event spaces, and improved player amenities and accessibility
Elevated seating bowls will bring fans closer to the action and enhance acoustics.
Architectus will collaborate with international sports architecture specialists HKS, the team behind some of the world’s most recognisable stadiums including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
They will create a stadium capable of hosting 20,000 spectators during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games football preliminaries and quarter finals.
GIICA CEO Simon Crooks said it was exciting to see the progress one year on from the launch of the 2032 Delivery Plan.
“These initial artist impressions for the Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade show what we are delivering for all Queenslanders: first class venues and upgrades that reflect the needs, lifestyle, environment, culture and ambition of the communities they serve,” he said.
Design development will continue through 2026, with site preparation scheduled to begin before the end of 2026 and construction commencing in 2027.
The Sunshine Coast Stadium project is part of the $7.1 billion Games Venues Infrastructure Program jointly funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government.
