FEATURE

Perth Arena is one of the most complex steel building constructions undertaken in Australia. Photo: Greg Hocking. Arena spectacular Since opening last November, the Arena has lived up to its billing as a world-class sporting and entertainment venue befitting the city’s international status. As Sean McGowan reports, a sustainable approach to mechanical services has delivered an outstanding indoor environment, no matter the event.

Located on Wellington St in Perth’s CBD, At a cost of almost $550 million, the facility, the brief led to many innovative the Perth Arena completes the first stage project began with a competitive tender service solutions that were made all the of the – a 13.5 hectare process won by a joint venture between more challenging by a retractable roof. urban renewal project that will reconnect -based architects Ashton the city centre with Northbridge for the Raggatt McDougall and local Perth firm Inside the beer can first time in more than 100 years. Cameron Chisholm Nicol, known as ARM+CCN. As is common for distinctive structures – Designed for multiple uses, including think London’s the Gherkin, or ’s international sporting events such as the The architectural vision is bold, based the Coathanger – the Perth Arena earned , as well as music concerts, on the Eternity puzzle and inspired by a nickname as its exterior form began to Perth Arena takes the place of the the state’s oldest building, the 12-sided emerge during construction. temporary Burswood Dome and before Round House in . As such, the that, the Perth Entertainment Centre, design is conceived to look different from In this case, being labelled “the squashed which stood adjacent to the site until it every angle. beer can” was hardly endearing. Nor was was demolished in 2011. it accurate, belying the complexity and Behind the striking façade, the design high standard of the design and finish. Since opening with back-to-back events responds to the ambitious yet functional last November – including a packed brief aimed at maximising the building’s For instance, it is one of the most house to see pop music icon Sir Elton commercial potential. complex steel building constructions John – more than 175,000 people have undertaken in Australia. It features more passed through its doors during the first Coupled with the Western Australian than 225,000 individual steel pieces, six months of operation. government’s desire for a sustainable weighing some 7,000 tonnes.

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Approximately 35m above the arena’s was accepted on the basis of the energy floor level, a retractable roof allows savings that could result from the for events to be held in natural light, introduction of mixed-mode systems. or under the stars. Driven by eight motorised units on rails, the two roof This measure relates to thermal comfort, panels are able to open or close in about and combines the influence of metabolic seven minutes. rate, clothing insulation, air temperature, radiant temperature, air speed and Patrons are well catered for: there relative humidity into one value on a are four bars, five function areas and thermal sensation scale. seven concession stands, as well as an underground car park and 36 hospitality WSP’s solution was a flexible mechanical suites located over two levels. services design incorporating a variety of air conditioning systems. This was In the round deemed to not only save considerable energy, but also reduce operating costs. Both WSP’s Melbourne and Perth offices played leading roles in the project, with the firm providing mechanical, electrical, specialist lighting and environmental The added advantage of services. displacement, other than The Melbourne office’s design team energy savings, is that assisted ARM+CCN during the concept design before the project moved to the higher levels of indoor air detail design phase, at which point it was transitioned to WSP’s Perth office. quality are achieved due to According to Mark Brayshaw, who joined the separation of stale air WSP in 2009 to work on the project as via the stack effect, which The building’s shape, with its lead mechanical engineer and overall positives and negatives created by WSP project leader, the brief from a enhances the overall indoor mechanical and ESD point of view was a the solid geometric forms joined by environment quality glass in-fills, has been designed to challenging one. ’ break down the size of the facility, Along with the desired ESD outcomes, which covers 31,645 sq m and stands it also set out strict indoor comfort It included the use of a displacement 50m above ground at its tallest point. conditions for function areas, offices, system within the arena, mixed-mode air conditioning in the concourse, and This design also helps with orientation media boxes, meeting rooms, conference natural ventilation in other areas. and navigation around the building. rooms and back-of-stage areas. Brayshaw says a displacement system was More than 10,000 triangular and Within the arena, a predicted mean vote selected for the arena space, because it rectangular Alucobond panels make (PMV) of +/-1 was required, while on the up the façade. The striking Yves Klein concourse a PMV of +/-1.5 was sought. met the ESD brief that all public spaces blue that welcomes patrons at the main The wider PMV band for the concourse achieve an air change effectiveness (ACE) entrance is continued within the interior space, complemented by natural timber panelling and highlights of red, orange A variety of configurations are and yellow. possible within the arena. Photo: Greg Hocking. Internally, the space’s design and function continue to take cues from the puzzle, with a myriad of configurations available to suit a variety of purposes. Although it has a capped capacity of 15,500 patrons for concerts, an innovative flexible curtaining system allows the arena to be reduced in capacity to as few as 3,400 in Lyric Mode (quarter house). Other configurations include tennis (13,300 patrons), “in the round” (15,500 patrons), “half house” (6,800 patrons) and basketball and (14,300 patrons).

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At Perth Arena, each patron is delivered between 7.5 and 10.25L/s at a supply-air temperature of between 18°C and 20°C via a 20mm high continuous slot that all-in-one runs the length of each seating plat. These plats are divided into sections around the arena, with four AHUs serving the supply air plenum of each section. A total of 20 AHUs serve the arena. So as to make best use of the conditioned air being produced while not wasting SOLUTIONS energy, variable speed drives (VSDs) were fitted to all pumps and fans. The The view from the stage. Photo: Duncan Barnes. distribution ductwork for each AHU also features motorised dampers to deliver the Zetco’s all-in-one solutions of better than 0.95, a PMV of between Although a mixed overhead system was conditioned air where it is required. +/-1 and that the active HVAC elements considered, Brayshaw says it couldn’t make HVAC installations achieve a total 50 per cent reduction in match the benefits that the displacement greenhouse gas emissions. system offered. This design provides just so easy! He says by using this type of system, “A displacement ventilation system is the flexibility we need to greenhouse gas emissions are reduced regarded more as a separation system by about 60 per cent – equating to rather than a dilution system that you maintain comfort conditions approximately 180 tonnes of CO2 would normally associate with a mixed during various modes, Now available in sizes annually. overhead system,” he says. by altering the supply 10mm to 50mm. By delivering conditioned air directly “The added advantage of displacement, to occupants via a seating plenum, other than energy savings, is that higher air temperature and/or it also offered the flexibility required levels of indoor air quality are achieved air flow rate to accommodate the changes in due to the separation of stale air via the ’ occupancy levels that come from stack effect, which enhances the overall the arena’s varying modes. indoor environment quality.” “This design provides the flexibility we need to maintain comfort conditions during various modes, by altering the supply air temperature and/or air flow rate,” says Brayshaw. With no return air path, a permanently open louvre around the perimeter of the retractable roof allows stale air to escape the arena space. To further improve the spectator and performer experience, the system delivers 100 per cent outside air to the bowl, with relief air provided by six roof-mounted fans. Brayshaw says this has resulted in excellent air change effectiveness and indoor environment quality. The use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was critical in a project such as this, and provided the WSP team with accurate modelling.

“We had no other choice, as the brief was Delivering innovative so stringent,” says Brayshaw of the choice to use CFD. “It provided us with the only valve solutions accurate means by which to simulate the air flows and temperatures expected within the arena.” To reduce energy costs further, Phone 1300 659 639 LN WMKA00110 the concourse areas are conditioned ATS 5200.12 Email [email protected] by a mixed mode system. www.zetco.com.au

HVAC systems are served 30 Ecolibrium • JUNE 2013 by a large central plant room. FEATURE Lessons from the consultant 1. Communication. Always ensure that all members of the design team and the contractor understand the design intent. 2. The brief. Agree to the brief and continuously review it to ensure that it is not forgotten during the design and construction. 3. Commissioning. Time and again the industry talks about construction programs allowing time for commissioning. Commissioning is so important to ensure that the brief and design intent are met.

High performance “It is not just a normal two-dimensional building. Rather, it is a complex structure The acoustic qualities of Perth Arena are inside a puzzle-like envelope. This means said to be world-class, already receiving the services had to be flexible enough high acclaim from those who have to ensure that the look and feel of the performed at or attended events at the internal space was not jeopardised during facility. the construction, and that comfort This was achieved by a state-of-the-art conditions were maintained. acoustic design that lined the facility with acoustic insulation during the framework “I am very proud of the fact that I have stage, including the use of recycled, worked on the project and contributed to When ambient temperatures permit, high compressed wheat panels and aluminium its successful completion.” and low-level windows are activated to acoustic cassettes. allow for natural ventilation. They then Perth Arena is operated by AEG Ogden automatically adjust to the temperature, WSP also worked closely with the on behalf of owners Venues West for the wind and humidity. architect and acoustic consultant to state government. ❚ ensure all mechanical services plant and The space can also be topped up with equipment was selected to ensure the spill air from the arena’s AHUs through stringent noise criteria was met. the use of motorised dampers. This Perth Arena would normally occur before and after Although condensation within facilities events, as well as during intervals. such as the Perth Arena can be a problem, at a glance this has been prevented through the The equipment use of a breathable membrane and K12 Attenuators: Fantech rigid phenolic insulation applied during When ambient AHUs: Carrier construction. The latter was installed temperatures permit, as one continuous layer within the wall BMS: Honeywell high and low-level windows cavity to minimise thermal bridging Boilers: Laars and to help keep the building’s internal Cental chilled are activated to allow for temperature constant. water plant: Carrier natural ventilation. They Adding to the facility’s sustainability Cooling Towers: B.A.C. credentials, Perth Arena features one of Fans: Fantech then automatically adjust the largest solar panel arrays in Perth. FCUs: Carrier to the temperature, wind This installation is part of the Perth Solar Pumps: Grundfos City program, an Australian government and humidity’ initiative focused on reducing barriers to The professionals the uptake of renewable energy. Architect: ARM Architecture These systems are served by a large The array generates 109kWe (peak) of and Cameron Chisholm Nicol central plant, consisting of two main (CCN) Joint Venture solar power, supplying a substantial chillers with a capacity of 2690kW each, proportion of the car park’s base-load Acoustics engineer: AECOM and a low-load chiller with a capacity electrical demand. Client: Govt of Western Australia of 531kW, providing a total capacity Dept of Treasury, Strategic of almost 6MW. Additionally, a 3MW Co/trigeneration was not considered due Projects boiler is used. to the lack of steady demand required to Contractor: justify the cost. BGC Construction WA Chilled water is distributed to each AHU serving the arena space, as well as break- Brayshaw says the project’s high- Lighting engineer: WSP Vision Design out spaces. Fan coil units (FCUs) serve performance outcome is testament to the staff areas and corporate suites. high level of coordination with the design Project manager: Appian Group team, as well as the mechanical services Mechanical and electrical The six relief air fans in the arena also contractor, to ensure that the mechanical engineer: WSP Group provide smoke exhaust and are capable design intent and interior design was Sustainability engineer: of extracting 25,000L/s each. Relief air maintained through the construction. WSP Built Ecology and smoke exhaust on the concourse is Mechanical services contractor: provided by two 90,000L/s fans and two “Perth Arena is a one-off project,” he Desair/Siganto & Stacey 60,000L/s fans. says. “There will never be another like it.

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