Triple Architecture Award Win for Bankwest Stadium

The Populous-designed Bankwest Stadium has received three prestigious architecture awards from the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Held via a livestreamed virtual event on Friday 3^rd July 2020, Bankwest Stadium won awards in the following three categories:

• Best Steel Architecture
• Best Commercial Architecture
• The People’s Choice Award for Life in 2020 “Best Post-Iso Party”.

Populous Lead Architect and Principal, Al Baxter, said the impressive triple award win confirms the unique design intent and positive impact Bankwest Stadium has had in Western Sydney.

“The NSW Architecture Awards celebrate the state’s best in architecture and design and to be awarded across three separate categories is exceptional,” Baxter said.

Bankwest Stadium was designed using Australian steel, fabricated and installed by a number of local businesses and workers, to recognise the site’s rich history.

“Through the use of steel, the industrial architectural language and floating fabric roof allowed us to pay tribute to the manufacturing and industrial heritage of Parramatta and the greater Western Sydney area.

“The design of the stadium was also based around several other key factors including fan experience, the connection and activation to the surrounding community and bringing fans as close to the action as possible,” Baxter said.

In a new category in this year’s program, the People’s Choice Awards For Life in 2020 was created by the NSW Chapter in response to the ways COVID-19 has altered relationships to housing, workplaces and the public domain. This marked the first time the public was able to have its say.

“Bankwest Stadium created the perfect melting pot that has left a lasting impact on the Western Sydney local community, the guests and the teams that play there,” Baxter said.

The trophy cabinet at Bankwest Stadium is growing fast resulting in a total of nine awards since it opened in April 2019. In May this year, Bankwest Stadium was confirmed as a world leader in sustainable design becoming the first stadium in the world to be announced as having achieved LEED v4 Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council.

“This is an outstanding achievement and the NSW Architecture Awards will now take us through to the National Architecture Awards program announced by the AIA in the coming months,” Baxter said.

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing over 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design.