Share this article
A year on since the Stage 2 redevelopment of North Melbourne Football Club’s Arden Street home was completed, the transformation into a top-tier training complex and community-oriented facility is offering a multitude of benefits for both the Club’s operations and other recreational uses.
Completed in November 2022, the $7.3m Stage 2 redevelopment and expansion has been key to futureproofing the North Melbourne Kangaroo’s football and community facilities at Arden Street Oval.
The North Melbourne Football Club Stage 2 redevelopment project delivered new and upgraded state-of-the-art facilities to service both community needs and the Club’s four elite programs: AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW.
The redevelopment has provided the capacity to boost female player development and helped foster the next generation of North Melbourne stars, including the Club’s recent hosting of, and participation in, the AFLW 2023 grand final. The development has bridged the gap between the men’s and women’s programs.
The Club’s community arm, The Huddle, was also revitalised with new learning and administration spaces to continue supporting the social inclusion, growth and development of younger generations.
The Stage 2 redevelopment scope of works included:
- East End Extension – an extension split over two levels which included AFLW and VFLW training and match day facilities, a media studio, improved amenities and function spaces.
- The Huddle Facilities – renewal and upgrade for new learning and administration spaces through fitout and audio-visual installations.
- Kitchen and Staff Social Hub – refurbishment of the existing Level 1 kitchen and multipurpose space, including construction of a new commercial kitchen, staff and player kitchen and dining area, lounge and social hub in the heart of the building.
- Demolition, clearing, earthworks and landscaping works.
Bridge42 Role
Bridge42 was appointed to provide strategic project direction and management services for the Stage 2 redevelopment in November 2021. We acted as a trusted authority providing independent perspectives, and robust project management and support throughout the design review, contractor procurement and delivery phases.
Our team completed a thorough project assurance review to identify key project risks and optimise the delivery of the project, while ensuring the lessons learned through Stage 1 of the redevelopment were effectively applied in Stage 2.
We were responsible for day-to-day project management working alongside the Lead Design Consultant tasked with finalisation of design documentation, authority approvals, project and contract administration, superintendent and defects liability management.
We also facilitated a workshop to determine the most suitable procurement methodologies and market engagement strategies.
Bridge42 Comments
Project Director, Josh Farnworth, who was the day-to-day contact for the redevelopment, said:
“It is fantastic to see how well-received the new and upgraded facilities have been by the North Melbourne Football Club and the local community alike.
“Arden Street Oval demonstrates a very effective hybrid model for how elite sport and community facilities are highly complementary and can be purposefully integrated and shared to, ultimately, benefit all users of this complex.
“With the upgrade to The Huddle and integration of innovative AV systems, the Club is now able to deliver great educational programs in a highly engaging and interactive environment leveraging the power of sport to strengthen engagement and trust with young people, improving their confidence and self-esteem, health and wellbeing.”
Director, Daniel Miller, said:
“It was a privilege to work with the North Melbourne Football Club – and in partnership with Chris Beattie of Neo Grp and the project team – on this major redevelopment and expansion project which has strengthened our experience in delivering world-class elite sport and community facilities.
“Bridge42 is proud of our strong track record in working with sporting clubs and government organisations to develop successful, commercially viable high performance and community recreation facilities across a range of sporting codes.
“Examples of elite sport complex projects we have managed include: the West Coast Eagles Training and Administration Centre; Fremantle Football Club’s home in Cockburn ARC; the South Sydney Rabbitoh’s Centre of Excellence in the new Heffron Centre, Sydney FC’s Sky Park Centre of Excellence; and the St George Illawarra Dragons’ Community and High Performance Centre.”
