ThomsonAdsett has designed the new world-class Nissan Arena.

The $44 million development is the home of the Queensland Firebirds as well as Netball Queensland’s administration headquarters. The state-of-the-art venue will support the sport at all levels from juniors right through to senior and representative players.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the new Brisbane-located facility is an important investment in the development of women’s sport in Queensland.

“Netball is right at the heart of Queensland sport and the Centre will support the development of our state’s emerging talents, so we can continue to produce some of the best netball players in the world,” Palaszczuk says.

Queensland’s Minister for Sport, Mick De Brenni also recognises that the project is an important milestone for women’s sport in Queensland.

“The Nissan Arena is appropriate recognition of a sport that is predominantly played by women and girls and run by women and girls,” De Brenni says.

“It’s over two decades since the Firebirds played their first match and to finally give netball a spiritual home of its own, of equal quality to our football grounds, is a milestone in the journey of equality for women in Queensland.”

The design features a sunken show court with retractable seating for 5,000 spectators as well as seven community courts.

The centre also has elite training facilities, player development spaces and a new multi-level car park that will service events held at the centre and commuters accessing public transport in the area.

For architects ThomsonAdsett, understanding the business side of elite and community sport was an important consideration in ensuring the facility would be sustainable into the future.

ThomsonAdsett worked alongside their clients and builder Hansen Yunken to explore future-proofing strategies and simplify the construction to deliver the project within a tight budget.

Group Director of Education and Communities at ThomsonAdsett, Chad Brown, says the project has delivered a flexible and unique solution that benefits all levels of the sport.

“The project delivers a lot for the investment,” Brown says.

“It uniquely operates across the elite and community spectrum of netball by being extremely flexible, while supporting the highest level of functional and performance outcomes.”

Photography by Christopher Frederick Jones