Brisbane 2032 Olympics: More design experts needed for venues

The man in charge of overseeing the design of the Sydney 2000 Games has backed a call for more design experts for Brisbane 2032.

The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will change the face of Brisbane.

The nation’s peak body for architects is asking the state government to hire more design experts for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to help avoid costly venue blowouts and major construction variations.

The plea has been backed by the man in charge of overseeing the design of the Sydney 2000 Games.

The Australian Institute of Architects has submitted five recommendations to Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie to address what it says are critical risks facing 2032 infrastructure delivery.

Their proposal, which includes embedding in-house senior architectural expertise in project governance and delivery and expanding the Office of the Queensland Government Architect (OQGA), is based on a design model used for the Sydney 2000 Games.

AIA Queensland chapter president Caroline Stalker said more architectural expertise would help avoid cost blowouts and poor operational performance.

In the submission, she wrote rushed design processes often resulted in “inefficiencies, design errors, and costly variations”.

“Without immediate action to embed design expertise and governance, we risk repeating the mistakes of past Olympic hosts who were left with cost overruns and poor legacy outcomes,” Ms Stalker said.

“Architects can play a pivotal role in assisting government to navigate delivery challenges.

“We are uniquely equipped to support cost-effective delivery, ensure long-term functionality, and achieve the Games’ legacy ambitions.”

It’s understood the Queensland Government Architect’s Office only has five full-time equivalent staff — the same as the ACT — while New South Wales has 26.

An early artist’s impression of Brisbane 2032 Games venues. Picture: Populous

Former NSW state government architecture Chris Johnson, who oversaw the design of major Sydney 2000 projects, said Queensland should more than double its in-house representation to capitalise on the statewide transformation opportunity.

Mr Johnson said there was a team of about eight who helped redesign the 2000 Games’ masterplan, while he also chaired a design review panel with multiple industry experts.

He said the Crisafulli government should consider establishing its own dedicated panel.

“I think it’d be good for some sort of a task force within government to look at just how to do something properly,” he said.

“I think a small input in terms of design quality and managing it through can really lift everything and work within time and within budgets.”

Mr Johnson said a number of books were produced about the Sydney 2000 architecture and the Games drew international design praise.

“It’d be pity if no one wanted to write a book about the Brisbane Olympics after the event to say look how fabulous this was,” he said.

A GIICA spokesperson said the organisation had been working closely with the OQGA for the 17 venues in the 2032 Delivery Plan, and had also recently met with the AIA.

The spokesperson said GIICA’s “focus on design” was reflected in the expressions of interest that went to market last week for Principal Design Consultants for the new Moreton Bay and Logan indoor sports centres, and Sunshine Coast and Barlow Park stadium upgrades.

“Design is a key component of GIICA’s remit in delivering legacy infrastructure for Queensland’s future and we will continue to collaborate with OQGA as we move forward into our delivery program,” the spokesperson said.

“Architects will form a central pillar in the principal design work across all our Authority venues, with GIICA committed to continued collaboration with OQGA and industry bodies such as the AIA.”

Mr Bleijie declined to comment on the submission.