Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture

RSTCA No:

R115

Name of Place:

Bruce Stadium & the National Indoor Stadium Precinct

Other/Former Names:

The National Athletes Stadium & the National Indoor Sports &
Training Centre, Bruce

Address/Location:

Australian Institute of Sport BRUCE ACT 2617

Block

Section

Listing Status:
Date of Listing:
Citation Revision No:
Citation Revision Date:

of
Other Heritage Listings:
Level of Significance:
Category:
Style:

Date of Design:

1974; 1979

Designer:

Construction Period:
Date of Additions:

1977; 1981

Client/Owner/Lessee:
Builder:

Late Twentieth
Century
Structuralist
Philip Cox &
Partners

Statement of Significance
The original Bruce Stadium, 1979, and the National Indoor Stadium, 1981, formerly the National
Athletics Stadium and the National Indoor Sports and Training Centre, by Philip Cox & Partners,
form a precinct of nationally significant architecture and are significant as an educational resource.
The two buildings are very good examples of the Late Twentieth-Century Structuralist Style (1960), with their compression masts and cable stays (both buildings), the Bruce Stadiums reinforced
concrete supporting structure and cantilevered concrete beams, and the National Indoor Stadiums
internal triangular steel supports to the roof. 2
The freestanding buildings, the landscape setting (both natural and created), the curved masonry
forms and lightweight infill materials of the indoor stadium, and the original detailing and finishes of
both buildings are important to the precinct as a whole.
Philip Cox played a significant role in Australias cultural history. He is one of Australias important
architects of the late twentieth century. These were important buildings in his career in terms of
their early date, size, prestige and because they express clearly the principles on which his
architecture is based.
Philip Cox was awarded the RAIA Gold Medal in 1984 and was made a member of the Order of
Australia in 1988.
The stadia are of much significance to Canberra and the Nation, specifically in their association
with national and international sport, because many of Australias elite sportspersons train there
and because the project was a sound and far-sighted vision of the NCDC. The Australian Institute
of Sport is Australias premier sporting institution.
The architecture of this precinct may contribute to the education of designers in their
understanding of late twentieth-century architectural styles, being the earliest, largest and most
significant examples in Canberra.

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Description
The two buildings were designed by the Sydney firm of Philip Cox & Partners; the Bruce Stadium
in 1974 and the National Indoor Stadium in 1979 1, for the National Capital Development
Commission. The construction of the Bruce Stadium was completed in 1977 and the National
Indoor Stadium in 1981 2. The buildings are examples of the Late Twentieth-Century Structuralist
Style (1960-) with their compression masts and cable stays (both buildings), the reinforced
concrete supporting structure and cantilevered end of concrete beams of the Bruce Stadium, and
the internal triangular steel supports to the roof of the National Indoor Stadium. 3
The precinct, which is located off Leverrier Crescent and the end of Battye Street in Bruce,
includes the original structures of the two stadiums, the landscaped area between and adjacent to
them and their natural setting. It does not include the Gymnastics Facility, the third building by
Cox at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
Bruce Stadium.
The original insitu concrete grandstand on the western side of the existing stadium has a metalframed roof supported by a lightweight tensile suspension structure. The structural system of prestressed grouped high-tensile steel cables was chosen to minimise the use of materials as well as
to make an architectural statement. There are five tapered box steel fabricated masts each with
nine attached suspension cables that support the steel framed roof beams, three per beam. The
metal-framed roof deck has a concrete over-deck adding weight to prevent uplift and in form tilts
12 degrees towards the playing field 4. The roof forms a robust curved element in the undulating
landscape setting.
The dominating steel masts extend from pin-joints at the ground level forecourt concourse
adjacent to the rear of the grandstand, the point of entry for the spectators, up to support the rear
perimeter highest part of the curved roof. Double steel sections tie the columns back to the upper
curved seating perimeter concrete frame, just below the mid pin-joint. The masts then elbow out
to provide the connections and supports for the suspension cables that take the load of the roof.
Each grouping of nine suspension cables are attached to the tops of the masts where the tensile
force is then taken by a pair of longer, thicker cables that extend down to concrete anchors set
further out from the grandstand in the forecourt concourse placing the masts in compression.
Each cable is attached to a steel block, which is in turn bolted to an anchor using an oversized Ubolt.
The lateral stability for the roof is provided by a combination of circular and boxed steel members
at each end that extend back to an insitu concrete buttress. The buttresses are integral to the
structure in that they also add support to the end of the upper curved perimeter concrete seating
structure that reads as a perimeter edge beam.
The grandstand seating is a curved concrete structure, both in plan and elevation, providing a
relatively steep profiled seating arrangement that was designed for optimum sight lines and
accessed by stairs and ramped pathways. Viewed from the forecourt the structure is expressed,
creating an architectural effect similar to the theories of Constructivism of the 1920s, with large
tapering concrete blade columns supporting sloping beams that in turn support the exposed
stepped seating slabs. The beams cantilever out to support the upper perimeter curved edge and
seating structure. The analogy with constructivism is further enhanced in the protrusion of cubic
blockwork and concrete elements associated with circulation and service facilities.
The lower seating structure is now partially obscured by in-filled areas and an office area that has
been added to the rear with extensive dark glazing.
Viewed from the playing arena the original grandstand open seating extends across the upper half
with the lower areas given over to commentary facilities and more recently installed corporate
boxes.
The original upper level seating structure to the side of the main grandstand, with its random stone
faced walls remains, however, the original seating that continued beyond this and was set into
earth-berms has been removed. The form of this perimeter seating set into the grassed banks
was an important design theme that enabled the seating structures to gently curve around the
northern and southern perimeter evolving into grass bank seating 5. The total form of the stadium
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blended in with the undulating landform. All of the remaining, original concrete seating has been
fitted out with fixed plastic individual seats.
The present unroofed seating (the bowl) extends the full perimeter of the stadium around to a
smaller roofed grandstand to the eastern side. This eastern grandstand was constructed in a
similar aesthetic to the original western stadium.
Below the original main stadium spectator seating are housed the change rooms, administration
offices and equipment stores providing separation of the spectator from the competitor/entertainer.
The imagery of the original grandstand is one of strength and boldness that is fitting for its
purpose.
The large lighting posts that now dwarf the original steel columns, the eastern grandstand and
perimeter seating do not form part of this citation.
National Indoor Stadium.
The rectangular building is to the north west of Bruce Stadium on the eastern side of Leverrier
Street. The full height of the structure is seen from the western elevation with the remaining sides
of the building semi-recessed approximately four metres into the site. The roof supporting cables
and masts are dominant elements. The catenary roof is supported by a 100 metre long tensile
cable system strung from twelve angled tapered boxed steel masts, six each to both the western
and eastern sides. The pre-stressed grouped high-tensile steel cables run at both the upper level
of the roof directly supporting the 50 mm thick 6x3 metre precast concrete roof
panels 6, while thicker cables run at the lower level well below the roof. These larger cables that
have a greater sag, support internal steel roof struts and three main bracing roof truss members
that run perpendicular to the cable structure providing lateral support.
Each steel mast is connected to the ground by a pin-joint and supports four upper cables and two
lower cables. Short length trussed spreader members that are discontinuous and independent of
adjacent cables align the cables at the roof perimeter. The roof cables are then anchored into the
ground via double cables that extend from the tops of the masts further out from the building.
Along the northern and southern sides the cladding and glazing abutting at the level of the lower
cables, reinforcing the catenary forms of the structure. Circular hollow steel struts of varying
lengths support the roof overhangs along these elevations extending from the lower cable system
to the upper end cables.
The secondary forms of masonry corner toilet cylinders and central concrete coned rainwater
collectors do not extend to the full height of the building expressing clearly that they are nonstructural. Their large solid forms contrast with the light tensile members. Combined with other
curved solid wall elements, the space framed glazing supports, glazed doors and sidelights, they
provide an interesting play of positive and negative rhythm to the faade creating an overall cubic
form softened by curved elements.
Originally spectators entered the stadium from the upper level via stairs at the western entry or
directly from ground level to the east. A new northern entry has been constructed at an angle to
the original building providing a major lobby and cafeteria space. The architecture of the new
entry is in contrast with the original building and was designed by Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn
Architects.
Internally the stadium is provided with a relatively steep perimeter seating arrangement that was
designed for optimum sight lines and is accessed from the upper continuous concourse and new
entry from the north. The seating can accommodate up to 5200 spectators. The playing area is
primarily based on a basketball court but allows for many sporting activities as well as concerts
and functions.
The stadium has a ventilating and air circulating mechanical system that is assisted by the
recessing of the building into the ground and circulates cooler air under the seating, maintaining a
relative constant temperature except during extreme weather conditions. The lightweight roof
structure is of its very nature minimalist, with the three large bracing trusses being the more
dominant structural form. The non-structural steel truss-framed moveable service gantry spans
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the width of the space with tracks located along the concourse. The precast panel roof soffits are
lined with ribbed metal panels.
The Indoor Sports Stadium is a consistently unified building in which the functional, structural and
mechanical, and landscape considerations are in support of each other. 8
The sculpture to the western forecourt, The Gymnasts, is by John Robinson 9.

The two stadia were designed and built within a short time of each other and are linked both
aesthetically, with the use of similar materials and structural systems, and physically via the
connecting manmade landscaped lawns and plantings. The same architecture firm designed both
structures.
The two tensile structural systems can be compared. The Bruce Stadium roof is hung from steel
cables while the Indoor Stadium is supported on long span cables. They are both good examples
of large structures integrated with the Australian landscape.
The key architectural elements characteristic of the Late Twentieth-Century Structuralist Style
(1960-) displayed by these buildings are their compression masts and cable stays (both buildings)
and the Bruce Stadiums reinforced concrete supporting structure and cantilevered end of concrete
beams, and the Indoor Stadiums internal triangular steel supports to the roof. 10
The freestanding buildings, the landscape setting (both created and natural), the curved masonry
forms and lightweight infill materials of the indoor stadium, and the original detailing and finishes
are important to the buildings as a whole.
The buildings are well maintained, in good condition and intact apart from the lower seating of the
grandstand and the ground floor office additions.

Condition and Integrity

Background/History
Architects who designed buildings in the Late Twentieth-Century Structuralist Style were seeking
an alternative to the heavier concrete architecture of the post war period and were often designing
for specialised functions that required very large column-free structures. These structures were
also claimed to be less expensive to construct since the materials, usually steel, were used in
tension and thus required minimal amounts of material. The steel cables, however, were made of
more costly high tensile steel and the connections were more labour intensive resulting in the
economies not always being achieved.
The use of metal cables in long span tensile structures was first achieved in England during the
mid 19th century in bridges such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, by Brunel, which spans 214
metres over the River Avon.
It would appear that the use of steel suspension tensile systems for buildings was first explored at
a small scale by Buckminster Fuller in the late 1920s with his design for the Dymaxion house
project. The radially planned house had a central vertical core that included all services and
extended well above the roof. Tension cables extended out from the top of the core to the
perimeter supporting the roof and elevated floor. 11
The earliest examples of tensile structures in Australia are in Melbourne and include the Olympic
Swimming Stadium, by Borland, McIntyre, John and Phyllis Murphy, 1952-56, the Sidney Myer
Music Bowl, Melbourne, by Yuncken, Freeman Brothers, Griffith and Simpson, 1956-59, both with
Bill Irwin as the structural engineer, and at a domestic scale Robin Boyds second house for
himself, 1957.
Later examples include the Sydney Football Stadium, 1985-88, (using struts rather than cables)
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and the Darling Harbour Exhibition Building, 1988, both by the same architects, Philip Cox
Richardson Taylor & Partners.
Internationally the early major steel tensile systems included the two Tokyo Olympic Indoor
Arenas, by Tange Kenzo, 1964, the West German Pavilion at the Montreal Expo 1967, and the
Munich Olympic stadium and pool roof structures, all by the engineer Frei Otto, 1972.
Other examples of this style in Canberra include Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park, by Cox; the
Canberra International Motor Inn, Dickson, 1981; and Rydges Capital Hill Hotel (formerly the
Pavilion Hotel) Forrest, the later two by Brian Dowling. All three vary from the Bruce buildings in
that they are tensile membrane structures.
Philip Cox, the founding principal of the firm, graduated from Sydney University in 1962 and in the
following year joined with Ian McKay to design various buildings for Presbyterian Colleges, the
Tocal Agricultural Collage, Paterson NSW, 1964, being an important early example of the Late
Twentieth-Century Sydney Regional Style. Cox and McKay jointly twice were awarded the RAIA
NSW Chapter Sulman Medals and Diplomas for meritorious architecture: 1963 for the college at
Leppington and in 1965 for the college at Patterson.
Cox believes that the architecture which emerged (from this early work) was the basis for all
future work, that is, an architecture which pays respect for its immediate environment, essentially
horizontal punctuated by simple massing, 12.
He believes in his firms work that we are dealing with fundamental issues and basic concepts of
architecture such as mass, form, colour and textures, whilst recognising social, political and
economic values. 13
He is one of Australias important twentieth century architects and his firm has expanded and the
name has changed as partners have come and gone over the last 40 years.
Cox believes Australian landscape painting has influenced his architecture 14. In the majority of
his work he has attempted to relate the buildings to their settings, a task relatively easily achieved
with his earlier Sydney Regional Style projects but more challenging in his later structuralist work.
In his shift from a heavy crafted regional aesthetic to the light industrial international aesthetic his
work has not lost this relationship with the site, as is clearly evident in the two buildings at the AIS.
Cox believes that the Sports Stadium and Indoor Facilities in Canberra (Bruce) are expressions of
the philosophy that there is no division between architecture and structural engineering They
are light, skeleton forms. They are buildings which pay homage to the landscape in which they
are placed. 15
Philip Coxs firms have completed a substantial body of work much of which is exemplary. He has
written extensively on architecture in Australia. In 1984 he was awarded the RAIA Gold Medal
and was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1988.
Some of the firms other important works include various inner city housing schemes including
Woolloomooloo, 1979, the Yulara Tourist Resort, 1983, Uluru, the National Tennis Centre, in
association with Peddle Thorp and Learmonth, 1988, the Sydney Football Stadium, 1988, and the
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The firm was awarded the RAIA NSW Chapter
Sulman medal and Diploma in 1989 for the Sydney Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.
The two buildings at the AIS, being the first major structures of their type the firm had designed,
laid the foundation for the firm to gain larger projects. Each building was awarded the Institution
of Engineers Excellence in Engineering Award, the National Athletic Stadium (Bruce Stadium) in
1977 and the National Indoor Sports Centre (National Indoor Stadium) in 1981.
Other works in Canberra include Jerrilderie Court, Reid, 1975, (awarded the C S Daley award
1978), Kambah Health Centre, 1977, (awarded the 1978 Canberra Medallion), the Embassy of
Ireland, 1981, the ACT Family and Juvenile Courts, 1981, National Council of Independent
Schools Headquarters, 1982, and Radford College, 1983 16.

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The Bruce Stadium was constructed to hold the 1977 Pacific Conference Games in Canberra prior
to the establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport 17. The National Capital Development
Commission chose for the site a relatively flat area west and north of the OConnor Ridge, a dry
sclerophyll nature park that extends south up to Black Mountain.
In his report, The Role, Scope and Development of Recreation in Australia, commissioned by the
Whitlam Labor Government in 1973, Professor J Bloomfield suggested that the Federal
Government establish a National Institute of Sportsimilarto many others in European
Countries. In September 1975 a study group was appointed by the government and reported in
November 1975 that it recommended the Institute be established 18.
In November 1975 the Federal Government changed and the attitude of the previous government
who believed in spending money but not for sporting elitism profoundly altered, to one that did not
believe in spending government money on sport.
At the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games Australia did not win a gold medal and found themselves
amateurs in a world of professionalspossessing a sporting past but not a future19.
The Fraser government attempted to prevent Australian athletes from participating in the 1980
Moscow Olympic Games as a result of the USSR intervention in Afghanistan. Some athletes
withdrew and others competed in Moscow but were prevented from participating under the nations
flag or receiving Federal funding. Possibly as recompense the Fraser Government announced in
January 1980 that an Australian Sports Institute would be established. There was much debate
about whether it should utilise existing state facilities or whether new facilities should be provided
in one location, but in September of the same year the Federal Government announced that it
would be located in Canberra 20.
It was determined that the existing Bruce Stadium should be utilised as the track and field, and
soccer facility, and that a new indoor arena be built for the opening ceremony to house 4,000
spectators, administration offices and be the home base for Australias elite basketball, netball,
gymnastics and weightlifting teams. The Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser opened the new indoor
arena in January 1981, just four months after the announcement to locate the facility in Canberra.
21
A limited construction period was forced on the design team of the indoor stadium. The structural
system devised allowed the roof to be constructed prior to or at the same time as the base building
was being constructed. The steel truss gantry aided by the use of outriggers enabled the roof to
be constructed independently of any walls
It became obvious within a year that additional facilities would be required due to the number of
sports using the indoor arena combined with commercial entertainment activities which resulted in
training schedules not being fulfilled 22. A gymnasium, tennis halls, swimming pools, basketball
courts etc. were constructed over the following years to alleviate these problems.
The World Cup in Athletics was held at the Bruce Stadium in October 1985 and while this was well
attended the overall use of the stadium as a spectator facility was limited 23. In 1988 a political
decision was made to relocate the Canberra Rugby League team, The Canberra Raiders from
Queanbeyan to Bruce Stadium. This required the removal of the athletics track and adjustment to
the perimeter seating. Some minor changes to the grandstand included glazing in the gap
between the upper level seating and the roof in 1979. The track and field training was relocated
to the nearby warm up track with enhanced facilities.
Prior to the Sydney 2000 Olympic games the Bruce Stadium was extensively altered with a new
grandstand to the eastern side, the relocation of the playing field closer to the original grandstand
and lowering its playing level, and the installation of new perimeter seating. Corporate boxes
replaced the original stadiums lower seating. The roof and upper seating have been retained.
The AIS is one of the real Australian successes of the 80s, an idea that was far ahead of its
time in Australia, and badly needed if we were to be competitive in the international arena. 24
The structural engineers for the two buildings were Bond James Laron Murtagh.

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Analysis against the Criteria specified in Schedule 2 of the Land (Planning and
Environment) Act 1991
(i) a place which demonstrates a high degree of technical and/or creative achievement, by showing
qualities of innovation or departure or representing a new achievement of its time
(ii) a place which exhibits outstanding design or aesthetic qualities valued by the community or a
cultural group
The two stadia buildings are exciting buildings and together exhibit key architectural elements of
the Late Twentieth-Century Structuralist Style (1960-) both with their compression masts and cable
stays, and the Bruce Stadium with its reinforced concrete supporting structure and cantilevered
concrete beams, and the Indoor Stadium with its triangular steel supports to the roof.
The freestanding buildings, the landscaping, both manmade and natural, the curved masonry
forms and lightweight infill materials of the indoor stadium, and the original detailing and finishes
generally are important to the buildings and precinct as a whole.
The grandstand and indoor stadium have been altered but their main elements are intact.
The main grandstand of the Bruce Stadium has been altered by deleting the lower seating to
included corporate boxes and the addition of a ground floor office to the rear. The Indoor Stadium
has been altered with the addition of a new entry and public facilities to the north side of the
complex.
The buildings are two of the best Australian examples of the style and are valued by the RAIA as
very good examples of this style and the work of Philip Cox. It is the only precinct in Australia that
includes two buildings with examples of differing tensile suspension systems, the Bruce Stadium
grandstand with its roof hung from steel cables and the Indoor Stadium with its roof supported on
long span cables. The precinct is a very good example of large structures integrated with the
Australian landscape and it is of national significance.

(iii) a place which demonstrates a distinctive way of life, taste, tradition, religion, land use, custom,
process, design or function which is no longer practised, is in danger or being lost, or is of
exceptional interest
(iv) a place which is highly valued by the community or a cultural group for reasons of strong or
special religious, spiritual, cultural, educational or social associations
(v) a place which is the only known or only comparatively intact example of its type
(vi) a place which is a notable example of a class of natural or cultural places or landscapes and
which demonstrates the principal characteristics of that class
(vii) a place which has strong or special associations with person, group, event, development or
cultural phase which played a significant part in local or national history
Philip Cox played a significant role in Australias cultural history. He is one of Australias important
architects of the late twentieth century. These were important buildings in his career in terms of
their early date, size, prestige and because they express clearly the principles on which his
architecture is based.
Philip Cox was awarded the RAIA Gold Medal in 1984 and was made a member of the Order of
Australia in 1988.
The stadia are of much significance to Canberra and the Nation, specifically because of their early
date, their association with national and international sports, the training and competing of many of
Australias elite sportspersons, and because the project was a part of the sound and far-sighted
vision of the NCDC. The Australian Institute of Sport is Australias premier sporting institution.
The Bruce Stadium was constructed as the venue to hold the 1977 Pacific Conference Games in
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Canberra prior to the establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport. Once the AIS was formed,
it was then specifically used as the track and field, and soccer training facility for the elite of
Australias athletes and staged further international athletics meets. World Cup in Athletics was
held there in October 1985. After a number of alterations it is presently the home ground for two
of the ACT football codes.
The Indoor Stadium, whilst constructed after the Bruce Stadium, was constructed as the AISs first
purpose build facility and its premier indoor facility. It is still used for national and international
sporting events.

(xi) a place which demonstrates a likelihood of providing information which will contribute
significantly to a wider understanding of natural or cultural history, by virtue of its use as a research
site, teaching site, type locality or benchmark site
Through their architectural style these buildings and their setting are a valuable educational
resource for designers. Their structure is characteristic of tensile forms exhibiting the two main
tensile structural systems. The style is an important part of the second half of the twentiethcenturys modern architecture and engineering. They are Canberras major example of this style
and are of national significance because of their outstanding design qualities, their importance in
Coxs body of work and their historical and social significance to Australian sport and sporting
events.

References
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Australian Architects Philip Cox. RAIA 1984

Jennifer Taylor. Australian Architecture Since 1960. RAIA 1990 & Canberra An
Architectural Guide To Australias Capital. RAIA 1982.
Richard Apperly Robert Irving Peter Reynolds. Identifying Australian Architecture
Styles and Terms from 1788 to the Present. Angus & Robertson 1989.
Taylor opcit.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid
Canberra An Architectural Guide To Australias Capital opcit
Richard Apperly Robert Irving Peter Reynolds opcit.
Reyner Banham. Theory and Design in the First Machine Age. The Architectural press
London. 1977.
Australian Architects Philip Cox opcit.
Australian Architects Philip Cox opcit
Graham Jahn. Sydney Architecure. The Watermark Press Sydney. 1997.
Australian Architects Philip Cox opcit
Canberra An Architectural Guide To Australias Capital opcit & Taylor opcit.
John A Daly. Quest for excellence: the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Australian Government Publishing Service. 1991.
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid
Ibid. Clearly the design for the Indoor Stadium was begun some time before the
announcement to locate the AIS in Canberra.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid. In the forward written by Robert de Castella.

Other Information Sources

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