Whitten Oval Indoor Training Facility
Project Details
Location: Footscray, VIC
Completion Date: July 2023
Size: 2028 sqm
Fabric: PTFE - Chukoh FGT800
Client: ADCO
Photography: © Martin Eddleston
MakMax Australia was entrusted with the task of designing, engineering, fabricating, and installing a 2028m2 PTFE fabric roof structure over the indoor training field at the Whitten Oval Indoor Training Facility.
Located at Whitten Oval in Footscray, home of the Western Bulldogs AFL Club, the indoor training facility serves as an integral part of the VU University High-Performance Centre.
The Brief
In close collaboration with the project’s lead contractor ADCO and the project architect, Populous, MakMax Australia played a key role in conceptualising and designing the high-tech, lightweight membrane roof to cover the indoor training field.
Drawing from our TensoSport-Max Hawksbill shape, the eight elegantly curved reclining-arches create an aesthetically pleasing profile while providing support and tension for the membrane. Valley cables are also employed to further tension the fabric, resulting in four large concave scallops in the roof profile.
Spanning an area of 52.5m x 37.5m, the lowest internal point on PTFE roof sits at an impressive 12 metres above the playing surface, ensuring ample space for AFL training activities.
The Concept
The Materials
The 2028 square metres of Chukoh Skytop FGT-800 fabric used on for the Whitten Oval Indoor Training Facility roof provides up to 15% translucency, allowing natural light into the indoor facility. This feature facilitates more daylight training sessions without the need for artificial lights, translating to cost savings and sustainability benefits for the club.
PTFE-coated glass fibre membranes stand out as the premier fabric products in the market. These materials boast UV stability, inert properties, and a proven design life of at least 50 years. They exhibit high translucency, an extremely low surface energy that minimises dirt build-up and maintenance intervals, and offer the best fire performance characteristics among fabric materials.
The entire roof structure is supported by secondary steelwork that was custom-designed to seamlessly integrate with the tops of the walls of main construction.
The Result
The Whitten Oval Indoor Training Facility, featuring a state-of-the-art membrane roof, is a stunning example of modern architectural materials being incorporated into a high-performance sporting facility. The 50m x 35m multi-purpose indoor training facility, with it highly-translucent PTFE fabric roof has been designed to allow natural daylight into the indoor field, providing a comfortable training environment throughout the year, shielding the AFL teams from Melbourne’s unpredictable weather conditions.
Positioned at the perimeter of the oval, the Whitten Oval Indoor Training Facility is prominently visible and serves as a striking architectural addition to the Western Bulldogs club amenities.
View a walkthrough of the new facilities with Western Bulldogs player, Aaron Naughton.
