With over 155 years of history, the Wanneroo Basketball Association and West Perth Football Club have been central to their communities in Perth’s northern suburbs.

As their membership expanded and facilities aged, a modern solution was essential. BG&E were engaged to carry out the structural and civil design of the new basketball and football facilities at the HBF Arena on Kennedya Drive in the suburb of Joondalup. From a structural perspective the project comprised a new basketball court to match existing with a double and single storey link structure between the new structure and existing, and a double storey football pavilion with link bridge to existing structure. New fitout was also required to existing under croft area.

The structure comprised bow trusses with tie rods and struts which were expressed internally and externally. To eliminate the requirement for foundations to hold down the tie rods to one side of the building BG&E proposed and designed connecting tie rods and struts between the existing and the proposed structure, effectively allowing the buildings to support one another.

BG&E developed and supervised the construction sequence to allow successful transfer of load from the existing building to the new structure. BG&E calculated that a deflection of 10mm would occur at the mid span of the existing structure once the transfer of load had taking place. Surveying carried out during this process measured the deflections at almost exactly 10mm.

From a civil perspective, the project comprised of a new paved car parking area, hardstand areas around the buildings and stormwater drainage disposal. The civil stormwater drainage works also provided an outlet for the building roof water as provided by the hydraulic consultant.