Located in the Brisbane suburb of Chandler, the new Anna Meares Velodrome is a centerpiece venue of the 2018 Commonwealth Games being held on the Gold Coast.

Designed by Cox Architecture, the Anna Meares Velodrome is a world-class cycling venue featuring a competition standard 250 metre timber cycling track and seating for up to 4000 spectators. It completes a cycling precinct within the Sleeman Sports Complex originally built for the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

The velodrome’s impressive parabolic roof covers an area of over 10,000m², with the north-south roof span measuring 120m in length. Along with the steel superstructure, it is clad in a combination of opaque and translucent tensioned membrane fabric that allows diffused natural daylight to penetrate the internal space. The energy efficient velodrome is also the first in the world to feature full LED broadcast-quality lighting.

The venue’s mechanical services were installed by Gold Coast-based General Air Conditioning Services, which was established in 2010 by Lee Mitchell and Peter Brunt. Having previously been involved in the successful completion of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre with main contractor Watpac Constructions, General Air was invited to tender for the Anna Meares Velodrome project.

Brunt says the velodrome’s main arena features a natural ventilation design. “Energy efficiency is always a focus on a project like this, so utilising natural ventilation for the main arena greatly assisted in this requirement,” he says.

Air conditioning is provided to the venue’s gymnasiums, offices and function rooms, as well as critical areas such as data rooms, security rooms and electrical switchrooms. Brunt says a wide range of Fantech products have been utilised throughout the venue for general supply and exhaust systems. These include EC PowerLine and Multiflow fans, as well as JetVent Series fans to circulate air under the timber track. Fantech also supplied Vacon Variable Speed Drives for the project.

“General Air has always had a strong relationship with Fantech, so with proven product, technical support and efficient logistics, Fantech was always in a good position to be able to work with General Air on this project,” says Brunt.

Brunt says careful fan selection was undertaken in order to meet the stringent acoustic requirements of the project. “Fantech was able to provide invaluable technical support and offer a large range of options and alternatives for consideration, resulting in our ability to meet the required standards.”

The project reached practical completion in October 2016, and was officially opened a month later by retired Olympic and Commonwealth gold medalist, Anna Meares – after which the facility is named.