Project Description
The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (MRS) is the new home of the elite Melbourne Victory and Storm soccer and rugby teams, and provides an outstanding training, sports medicine and administration complex. On Edwin Flack Field in the Olympic Park precinct, the MRS, also known as AAMI Park, provides Melbourne with a purpose-built, medium-sized rectangular pitch stadium with a world-class playing surface.
Programmed’s expertise was called upon by Grocon Constructions for the design and construction of the electrical and communications services.
Project Solution
The solution included all voice and data cabling, LED cabling for the stadium’s façade feature lighting, audio visual cabling services in the corporate dining room, television and radio broadcast cabling, and the stadium’s video scoreboard cabling.
Programmed also provided the electrical services including all power, lighting and mains infrastructure (main switchboards), together with the stadium’s pitch lighting. The entire stadium’s lighting systems were automated and controlled by a Dynalite lighting control system.
With an average of 40 people working on-site every day, installation began in January 2008. AAMI Park presented many challenges due to its unique canopy roof structure. This created an unusual working environment for the Programmed workers, as there were no catwalks, therefore creating extremely difficult access. Consequently, all lighting had to be mounted off a specialty lighting truss and typical installation practices had to be reviewed and redefined to suit the roof structure so scaffolds, scissor lifts and boom lifts were used.
The Programmed workers were required to conceal the cabling as much as possible. Typically the cabling is orange and black, which would stand out on the stadium’s white canopy structure. To overcome this, Programmed sourced the production of a specialised ‘white UV stabilised cable’ that is protected in the sunlight. This cabling was used for the pitch lighting.
Project Outcome
Programmed’s dedicated involvement in this significant installation ensured that the MRS complex will continue to entertain visitors for years to come!
