COX and Hassell win Brisbane Stadium design contract

COX Architecture and Hassell will partner with Japan’s Azusa Sekkei to deliver the new Brisbane Stadium, the main venue for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Queensland Government awarded the trio the contract for Brisbane Stadium, slated for development in Victoria Park, after a three-month procurement process by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA), which began with an open market call for Expressions of Interest in September 2025.

“We sought visionary design, innovation and quality teamwork credentials when we started our selection process for the principal architect, and that is certainly what we have seen through our exhaustive deliberations,” GIICA chairman Stephen Conry AM said in a statement on 5 January. “The track record of COX, Hassell and Azusa Sekkei made them an outstanding choice as principal architect for Brisbane Stadium.”

COX and Hassell designed Perth’s Optus Stadium, the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and were part of the consortia that delivered the 2006 redevelopment of the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s (MCG) Northern Stand. Azusa Sekkei has delivered 120 stadiums worldwide, including the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The selected team possess the appropriate experience in stadium design, alongside outstanding local knowledge and placemaking expertise, plus the added global resources that will be required for a project of this significance,” Conry said.

The team is supported by engineering firms Arup and sbp in the design of the stadium’s roof. Meanwhile, Indigenous-owned consultancy Blaklash will guide meaningful and ongoing First Nations engagement throughout the project.

A ‘Queensland Response’ for Brisbane Stadium

According to the Government, the concept is a ‘Queensland Response’, embedding the venue into Victoria Park’s topography.

COX’s Brisbane-based chair Richard Coulson defined the Queensland character “more by humility than bravado” – a quality he said was reflected in the architecture of the traditional Queenslander.

“We believe the stadium must be truly of its place, reflecting not only the identity of Brisbane but also the broader region,” Coulson said. “It should foster the connection between where we live, the surrounding landscape, and nature itself.”

Coulson called Victoria Park a “stunning” setting for the stadium with rolling green hills and sweeping views.

“The importance of long views, capturing cooling breezes, and the essential provision of shade, all embody the relaxed way of life that Queenslanders cherish – qualities that are integral to our culture,” he said.

A legacy beyond the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games

Coulson and managing principal of Hassell‘s Brisbane studio, Lucy O’Driscoll both emphasised the need for the stadium to have a life after the games.

“This design goes beyond just meeting the needs of major international events by ensuring the venue can be adapted for a wide variety of sporting and cultural uses, making it a genuine asset for the whole community,” O’Driscoll said. “It will not only deliver a world-class experience for athletes and fans, but also provide Brisbane with a vital piece of sporting infrastructure of true global calibre – a place all Queenslanders will be proud of.”