VISION 44 — GRAND STAND
What technical help did Viridian provide?
We worked closely with Viridian’s engineers in Melbourne
to understand what really was the best way to conceive
the glass and the best products they had available to meet
the needs from a visual/light perspective. How much
transmittance of light were we going to get but also to
be able to see through the glass. We had reasonably large
samples we could take to our client and show them.
It’s tangible.
Any other key design drivers?
One of the key ones early on was a 5,000 sq.m department
for the Geelong Cats downstairs underneath the stadium,
not a lot of light can actually reach the office spaces
directly underneath the actual tier itself. We located all
of their common facilities – breakout facilities, the places
where football staff can come and congregate – with a
glass floor that has visual connection above. That’s great
from a working and environmental perspective. That’s
combined with planting and other internal items we’ve
placed within the actual floor plate itself. On match day
it also gives connectivity for the patrons because they
look directly down and into the space.
Any benefits in sourcing a local product such as Viridian’s?
It gives architects a lot more confidence in what we’re
going to see on site. It also allows quicker turn-around
from a construction perspective. It also informs our
clients so they know straight up what they’re getting.
As well as working with the fabricators a local product
certainly does help.
Any memorable moments?
It was pretty monumental once we got the majority of
the glass and eventually started lifting. It had been in
fabrication for many months and we had gone through
the original design and shop drawing phase. It is quite
a monumental occasion when you see it come together
exactly like the renders and how we conceived it.
Are you a Cats convert now?
I have become a Cats convert. They certainly weren’t
my first team leading into it but they certainly are now.