Department of Public Works (Queensland)
In the same year, construction begins on the Suncorp Stadium redevelopment in Brisbane. The redevelopment of Suncorp Stadium was the biggest and most ambitious project of its kind ever undertaken by the Department of Public Works. It involved a significant expansion of the stadium and the implementation of extensive built infrastructure and technologically advanced building systems.
The 52,500-seat world-class venue opened in June 2003 – on budget and on time – and became home to the Brisbane Broncos rugby league team. Today, it also hosts national and international rugby union and soccer games along with State of Origin matches and music concerts.
Department of Public Works (Queensland)
On 4 October 2009 the award winning Kurilpa Bridge, located over the Brisbane River, was officially opened. The Kurilpa Bridge was the first pedestrian bridge in the world to be based on tensegrity construction principles which balance the tension of the cables with the concrete and steel components to produce a light-weight but strong structure. In fact, the unique tensegrity structure of the bridge would not have been possible 10 years before because the computer software required to design this unique structure did not exist.
It is also the only bridge in the world to supplement its power to the degree that it does. Around 75 per cent of the power required to run the LED lighting in the fully lit mode is provided by solar energy. In most lighting configurations, 100 per cent of the power is provided by solar with any surplus power returned to the main grid.
The bridge was judged World Transport Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival. It was the first Queensland project to win a World Architecture Award.