the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples
Queensland
Brisbane
The interior design of the National Rugby Training Centre is a marked departure from the stereotypical high performance training centre – typically garishly coloured with sponsorship branding and haphazard memorabilia scattered throughout. The NRTC design is, in contrast, subdued and curated, purposed to calm the stress associated with the level of training and competition. Memorabilia and graphics play a key role, but they have been curated with Andrew Uttley to be integral with the design. Another departure is that spaces open out to the surrounds, including the large gymnasium, to enable players to breathe fresh air and enjoy connectivity with the outside world, including with the public. The atmosphere is augmented by borrowed daylight created by manipulating the building’s cross-section. This manipulation also fulfils a major client request, to maximise visual and physical interaction between players – men’s and women’s – and with coaches, staff, visitors and community, all in inspiring spaces.
The National Rugby Training Centre is not just a high performance centre. It is the beating heart of Australia’s spiritual home of Rugby – Ballymore. Blight Rayner has designed it to work effortlessly for multiple programs, genders and ages, as well as be an enticingly atmospheric stadium – it has completely revived Ballymore through design – remarkable for an extremely limited $31.5 million budget. It is the first in Australia to equate men’s with women’s rugby, and it has set the benchmark attracting visits from clubs and organisations around the country and internationally. It is an extraordinary achievement.
Michael Rayner, Project Architect
Ashneel Maharaj, Project Architect
Jeremy Woodridge, Graduate of Architecture
Rachel Levi, Graduate of Architecture
Adelaide Hampson, Design Architect
Kate Reilly, Designer
Sian Farrell, Designer
Lauren Hickling, Interior Designer
Marnie Goodman, Design Architect
Ben Wilson, Design Architect
Arlyn Mangabat, Project Architect
Bronwyn Hart, Interior Designer
RPS, Project Manager
WSP, Structural, Mechanical, Hydraulic, Environmental, Electrical, Specialist Lighting, Acoustic, Civil & Fire Engineers.
RPS, Landscape Architect
RLB, Cost Consultant
RPS, Town Planner
McKenzie Group, Access Consultant
WPS, Sustainability Consultant
RPS, Building Surveyor
Andrew Uttley Architecture, Display Design
Bligh Tanner, Facade Engineer
FSDA, Food and Beverage Consultant
McKenzie Group, Certification Consultant
Specialist Field Engineer, Specialist Field Engineer
TTM, WSP, Traffic & Transport
Blight Rayner, RPS, Urban Planner
Visualiii, Visualisation
Dotdash, Wayfinding
The ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
