Bankwest Stadium was today named a Finalist in two separate categories of the 2021 Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence as judges recognised the quality of service provided at the venue.

Bankwest Stadium was announced as a Finalist in the following categories:

• City of Parramatta Excellence in Customer Service.
• WSABE Excellence in Retail.

In total, 128 finalists have been shortlisted across 18 award categories in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments across business, export, sustainability, innovation, culture, and many other areas that collectively position Greater Western Sydney as one of Australia’s highest-performing economies.

This year, WSABE achieved a record number of entry engagements and accumulated more than 400 award submissions.

Winners will be announced at the 2021 WSABE Gala at Rosehill Gardens on Friday 26 November.

Check out all the Finalists in the 2021 Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence here.

Bankwest Stadium is a boutique 30,000-seat stadium in booming Parramatta that has been widely recognised for its sustainability, cutting edge design and amazing atmosphere for live sport and entertainment.

Since opening its doors to the public in April 2019, it has also become a hub of community and cultural activities.

The Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence recognise the quality of the Customer Service and Retail function of the Stadium provided by Stadium operator VenuesLive, in conjunction with its stakeholders.

Bankwest Stadium has pivoted significantly in 2020 and 2021 to embrace new opportunities in a COVID Safe environment, including a Drive-In movie theatre and Pixar Putt mini-golf course in the northern carpark. It was one of the first stadiums in the world to implement COVID Safe protocols and welcome back sporting events in 2020, while also providing a safe environment for a host of community and cultural events. It was also the first stadium in the world to announce it had achieved LEED V Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council as a world leader in sustainable function and design.

In announcing the Finalists, the WSABE Committee said: “In 2021, we have made the decision to update the entry process to allow applicants to highlight how they had demonstrated novelty, resilience, and the ability to re-pivot against a backdrop of constantly evolving COVID-19 restrictions.

“This update to the entry process resulted in the submission of many incredibly inspiring stories of businesses across the region identifying new ways to endure and remain relevant.”

Speaking on the calibre of entries received in 2021, Vanessa Ferreira, A/Director Engagement and Communication, Transport for NSW and WSABE Judge said: “As a WSABE Judge, I was impressed by the fantastic talent and capabilities displayed by all the applicants this year. COVID has been a difficult time for businesses across Greater Sydney, but what we’ve seen is that in the face of adversity, businesses have adapted their practices and offerings to fit the needs of their customers and communities.

“It has been insightful and inspiring to see the images and hear the stories of our local businesses who pivoted during COVID and reinvented themselves, as we have at WSABE. I look forward to the upcoming announcement of the category winners.”

The accolades continue to flow for Bankwest Stadium with the Stadium today named as a finalist for two prestigious awards in the 2021 Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards.

Bankwest Stadium is now in the running for Best Sustainable Development (New Buildings), and Best Tourism & Leisure Development.

The Stadium is also now in line for the property industry’s most esteemed award – The Australian Development of the Year – along with the high-profile State Development of the Year in NSW.

The category winners will be announced at an official gala dinner at the ICC Sydney on Friday 13 August. You can see a full list of award nominations here.

The nominations continue a celebrated run of award recognition for Bankwest Stadium, which has now received 15 awards and nominations since it opened in April 2019.

Bankwest Stadium is owned by Venues NSW on behalf of the NSW Government and operated by VenuesLive, a leading Australian-based provider of management and hospitality services to venues and events.

The Stadium was designed and constructed by Lendlease in conjunction with architect Populous and engineering company Aurecon and, was delivered by Infrastructure NSW.

 

STADIUM AWARDS

The trophy cabinet at Bankwest Stadium is growing fast. Built #ForTheFans with the event experience front of mind, the 30,000-seat Stadium has now won 15 awards since it opened with a Community Open Day in April 2019.

Bankwest Stadium’s List of Awards

• Australian Steel Institute’s NSW Steel Excellence Award for large projects;
• Master Builder Association of NSW Award for Sporting Facilities;
• Master Builder Association of NSW Award for Excellence in Environment;
• Good Design Award Gold Accolade in the Architectural Design Commercial and Residential category;
• Best Commercial Architecture: 2020 NSW Architecture Awards;
• Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture: 2020 NSW Architecture Awards;
• NSW People’s Choice Award for Life in 2020: NSW Architecture Awards;
• LEED v4 Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council: First Stadium in the world to announce LEED v4 Gold standard for sustainable design.
• Silver Medal: Stadium Database Stadium of the Year Awards 2019:
• 2019 Project of the Year – Joint Winner: BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;
• Outstanding Sports & Major Events Project for 2019– BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;
• Australia’s Best Rectangular Stadium– Austadiums Stadium Of The Year Awards 2019;
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Excellence Award– Stowe Australia for Bankwest Stadium;
• Finalist: 2021 Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards – Best Sustainable Development (New Buildings);
• Finalist: 2021 Property Council of Australia/Rider Levett Bucknall Innovation & Excellence Awards – Best Tourism & Leisure Development.

Bankwest Stadium’s trophy cabinet has grown to 13 awards with confirmation another three prestigious accolades have been added after wins at the 2020 Master Builders Association (MBA) NSW Awards and another win at the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) NSW Steel Excellence Awards.

The MBA NSW Awards is a comprehensive awards program for the building and construction industry while the ASI NSW Steel Excellence Awards span across the entire steel industry from manufacturing right through to end use.

Bankwest Stadium received the top award for:

• Australian Steel Institute’s NSW Steel Excellence Award for large projects.
• Master Builder Association of NSW Award for Sporting Facilities.
• Master Builder Association of NSW Award for Excellence in Environment.

Since opening in April 2019, Bankwest Stadium has received 13 awards across categories ranging from architecture, engineering, environment, infrastructure and construction.

The Stadium has welcomed almost 800,000 fans through the gates for more than 80 sport and entertainment events, with an additional  30,000 people for functions, business meetings, community and cultural events.

In 2020, Bankwest Stadium became one of the first venue’s in the world to return to operation during the COVID-19 pandemic, acting as a COVID Safe venue and facilitating the safe return of major sporting codes.

The Stadium has also been named as a finalist in the 2020 Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence (NSW/ACT) in the Venue Caterer Category, which will be announced on 7 December.

Bankwest Stadium is owned by Venues NSW on behalf of the NSW Government and operated by VenuesLive, a leading Australian-based provider of management and hospitality services to venues and events.

The Stadium was designed and constructed by Lendlease in conjunction with architect Populous and engineering company Aurecon and, was delivered by Infrastructure NSW.

Bankwest Stadium has been named as a finalist in the 2020 Restaurant and Catering Awards for Excellence (NSW/ACT) in the Venue Caterer Category.

The Awards for Excellence program provides deserved recognition to those restaurants and caterers that excel in their field, with the Stadium named on a list of Finalists that includes many of the most celebrated restaurants in the nation, including Aria, Tetsuya’s and China Doll.

See the full list of 2020 Awards for Excellence Finalists here

The winners from each category will be announced at a presentation event in Sydney on the evening of Monday 7 December.

The awards are run by the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association, a not-for-profit national association that leads and represents the interests of over 45,000 restaurants, cafes and catering businesses in Australia.

Bankwest Stadium in Western Sydney has been lauded as a world-class venue since opening its doors to the public in April 2019 and has already received 10 awards for excellence in its design and function, in categories ranging from architecture to sustainability and venue performance.

It was the first Stadium in the world to receive the prestigious LEED v4 Gold standard for sustainable design.

Bankwest Stadium’s List of Awards

• Good Design Award Gold Accolade in the Architectural Design Commercial and Residential category;
• Best Commercial Architecture: 2020 NSW Architecture Awards;
• Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture: 2020 NSW Architecture Awards;
• NSW People’s Choice Award for Life in 2020: NSW Architecture Awards;
• LEED v4 Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council: First Stadium in the world to announce LEED v4 Gold standard for sustainable design.
• Silver Medal: Stadium Database Stadium of the Year Awards 2019:
• 2019 Project of the Year – Joint Winner: BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;
• Outstanding Sports & Major Events Project for 2019– BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;
• Australia’s Best Rectangular Stadium– Austadiums Stadium Of The Year Awards 2019;
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Excellence Award– Stowe Australia for Bankwest Stadium.

 

Read the official Populous Media Release here

Bankwest Stadium has received a prestigious Good Design Award Gold Accolade in the Architectural Design Commercial and Residential category at the 2020 Good Design Award Week – the 10th Award handed to the Western Sydney Stadium since its opening in April last year.

The Good Design Award recognises the outstanding design and innovation that went into the Stadium project.

The annual Good Design Awards is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious international Awards for design and innovation with a proud history dating back to 1958. The Awards celebrate the best new products and services on the Australian market, excellence in architectural design, engineering, fashion, digital and communication design, design strategy, social impact design and young designers.

More than 55 Good Design Awards Jurors evaluated each entry according to a strict set of design criteria which covers ‘good design’, ‘design innovation’ and ‘design impact’. Projects recognised with a Good Design Award must demonstrate excellence in good design and convince the Jury they are worthy of recognition at this level.

The Good Design Awards Jury praised Bankwest Stadium, commenting: “Designed as a piece of social infrastructure, the stadium successfully references the local industrial heritage to create a great spectator experience. It also manages to address its place in the city, providing activity, engagement and connection rather than isolating the sports field. A strong design result that has exceeded the brief in so many areas.”

Bankwest Stadium is owned by Venues NSW on behalf of the NSW Government and operated by VenuesLive, a leading Australian-based provider of management and hospitality services to venues and events.

The Stadium was designed and constructed by Lendlease in conjunction with architect Populous and engineering company Aurecon and, was delivered by Infrastructure NSW.

Read the official Media Release from the Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter) here

Bankwest Stadium has been presented with three separate NSW Architecture Awards in a stunning recognition of the venue’s unique design and the impact it has had in Western Sydney.

Architect Populous received the prestigious awards on Friday 3 July 2020 as the Australian Institute of Architects came together to celebrate great architectural design in NSW.

Bankwest Stadium won awards in the following categories:

• Best Steel Architecture;
• Best Commercial Architecture;
• The People’s Choice Award for Life in 2020.

The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing over 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design.

NINE AWARDS

The trophy cabinet at Bankwest Stadium is growing fast. Built #ForTheFans with the event experience front of mind, the 30,000-seat Stadium has now won nine awards since it opened with a Community Open Day in April 2019.

In May this year, Bankwest Stadium was confirmed as a world leader in sustainable design . . . the first stadium in the world to be announced as having achieved LEED v4 Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council.

Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said the gold certification recognised Bankwest Stadium’s high performance in innovation, water savings, energy efficiency, transportation options and materials selection during construction.

“Bankwest Stadium has been a game-changer for sports fans and players but this world leading achievement in sustainability shows it is much more than just a great place to watch footy,” Mr Lee said.

“This stadium was not only designed and built with the spectator in mind, but also the local environment, the local community and the industrial heritage of Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney.”In March, Bankwest Stadium was awarded the Silver Medal by a panel of international design experts at the 10^th annual Stadium Database Stadium of the Year awards.

Bankwest Stadium finished behind only Tokyo’s Olympic showpiece, the Japan National Stadium, as the best stadium built anywhere in the world in 2019.

While the Japan National Stadium cost AU$2.4 billion to construct, the NSW Government built Bankwest Stadium for just $360 million.

In November 2019, Bankwest Stadium was announced as joint winner of the 2019 Project of the Year at the BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Dinner at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

Bankwest Stadium was also awarded the Outstanding Sports & Major Events Project for 2019.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Chairman, Christopher Brown AM, said at the Project of the Year awards ceremony: “Bankwest Stadium has been a massive hit with spectators, users and the community, and the positive economic and social flow-on effects it’s delivered, has helped validate the NSW Government’s stadium investment strategy and has been a boon to Eels and Wanderers fans in particular.”

Bankwest Stadium was named Best Rectangular Stadium in the online Austadiums Stadium Awards of 2019.

In September 2019, the Bankwest Stadium project received its first award when Stowe Australia took out the NECA Excellence Award for its work on the revolutionary electrical and lighting systems within the Stadium, with stunning light shows a feature of night-time events at Bankwest Stadium.

STADIUM BACK IN BUSINESS

The home of events in Western Sydney is back in action as COVID-19 restrictions ease and hosted its first event with crowds back on Friday 3 July when the Parramatta Eels ran out to play the North Queensland Cowboys in front of 6730 fans.

Bankwest Stadium has been the hardest working venue in the nation during the COVID-19 period after it was identified by the NRL as one of its core COVID-safe venues.

Bankwest Stadium has also re-opened for functions off the field. Offering a combination of bespoke spaces with arena views and park views, the Stadium’s casual and formal areas host events of all sizes and formats.

Economic analysis conducted for City of Parramatta Council showed that, prior to the COVID-19 public health crisis, Bankwest Stadium was bringing a financial benefit of nearly $1 million to Parramatta each time an event was held at the Stadium.

Bankwest Stadium is owned by Venues NSW on behalf of the NSW Government and operated by VenuesLive, a leading Australian-based provider of management and hospitality services to venues and events.

The Stadium was designed and constructed by Lendlease in conjunction with architect Populous and engineering company Aurecon and, was delivered by Infrastructure NSW.

 

Bankwest Stadium’s List of Awards

• Best Commercial Architecture: 2020 NSW Architecture Awards;
• Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture: 2020 NSW Architecture Awards;
• NSW People’s Choice Award for Life in 2020: NSW Architecture Awards;
• LEED v4 Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council: First Stadium in the world to announce LEED v4 Gold standard for sustainable design.
• Silver Medal: Stadium Database Stadium of the Year Awards 2019:
• 2019 Project of the Year – Joint Winner: BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;
• Outstanding Sports & Major Events Project for 2019– BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;
• Australia’s Best Rectangular Stadium– Austadiums Stadium Of The Year Awards 2019;
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Excellence Award– Stowe Australia for Bankwest Stadium

As Bankwest Stadium opens its doors again for NRL action this weekend, the world class venue is celebrating its status as a world leader in sustainable design.

Bankwest is the first stadium in the world to announce it has achieved LEED v4 Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council.
Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said the gold certification recognised Bankwest’s high performance in innovation, water savings, energy efficiency, transportation options and materials selection during construction.

“Bankwest Stadium has been a game-changer for sports fans and players but this world leading achievement in sustainability shows it is much more than just a great place to watch footy,” Mr Lee said.

“This stadium was not only designed and built with the spectator in mind, but also the local environment, the local community and the industrial heritage of Parramatta and Greater Western Sydney.”

Lendlease Building General Manager NSW, Sandra Perosh, said the certification was a testament to Lendlease’s commitment to creating the best places while ensuring optimal environmental outcomes.

“We have helped deliver a world class stadium in every sense – merging unrivalled design, construction and operation to create the ultimate fan experience,” said Ms Perosh.

Bankwest Stadium CEO Daryl Kerry said: “To receive this certification is a real testament to the enormous amount of work that went into the design of the stadium and the way the stadium operates on an environmental sustainability level.

“Bankwest Stadium was built for the fans, but it was also built to operate with very minimal impact on the environment.”

Venues NSW Acting CEO Joe Achmar said: “Bankwest Stadium has become part of the social fabric of Western Sydney.

“Right from the start of the project we’ve had the fan experience and the environmental impact of the Stadium front of mind and we’re proud to receive this certification today.”

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a rating system that covers buildings, homes and communities that are designed, built, maintained and operated to a high environmental performance.

The awards and recognition keep coming for Bankwest Stadium, with the pride of Western Sydney awarded the Silver Medal by a panel of international design experts at the 10^th annual Stadium Database Stadium of the Year awards.

Bankwest Stadium finished behind only Tokyo’s Olympic showpiece, the Japan National Stadium, as the best stadium built anywhere in the world in 2019.

While the Japan National Stadium cost AU$2.4 billion to construct, the NSW Government built Bankwest Stadium for just $360 million – the first stage of the Government’s plan to rebuild the State’s major stadium network.

It is further outstanding recognition for the Bankwest Stadium that is approaching its first birthday after opening with a Community Open Day on 14 April last year.

StadiumDB.com is a Polish-based website that analyses the construction and design of football stadiums around the world.

Four international architectural experts were on the panel for the #StadiumOfTheYear Jury Award, with Bankwest Stadium finishing a close second. No Australian stadium has ever featured as high in the annual Stadium DB Awards.

The judges summed up: “Bankwest Stadium is simply one of the best stadia opened in 2019 and strong contender for Stadium of the Year.

“While Populous have designed many widely praised stadia worldwide, they still managed to create something quite unseen here in Western Sydney.

“The aesthetics of this Stadium is somewhat turned upside down: what is usually hidden by architects, is here exposed – the steel and concrete support structure becomes the Stadium’s main visual strength.

“Meanwhile, the roof’s membrane landed on the bottom of the girders rather than the top. This allowed it to become the illuminated part, also a boost for acoustics inside.

“We’re not done . . . the seating bowl offers as good conditions for football (and rugby) as possible. Steep stands, proximity to the field, extensive hospitality offer and great attention to family-friendliness (including a playground along the east stand), are features that make this Stadium great for fanatics, businesspeople and families alike.”

One judge said he felt weird voting for a competitor “but this Stadium is so good there’s nothing else left to do”.

The Silver Medal from the Stadium DB Awards is the fifth award bestowed upon Bankwest Stadium in its first year of operation.

In November, Bankwest Stadium was announced as joint winner of the 2019 Project of the Year at the BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Dinner at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

Bankwest Stadium was also awarded the Outstanding Sports & Major Events Project for 2019.

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Chairman, Christopher Brown AM, said at the Project of the Year awards ceremony: “Bankwest Stadium has been a massive hit with spectators, users and the community, and the positive economic and social flow-on effects it’s delivered, has helped validate the NSW Government’s stadium investment strategy and has been a boon to Eels and Wanderers fans.”

Bankwest Stadium was named Best Rectangular Stadium in the online Austadiums Stadium Awards of 2019.

Last September, the Bankwest Stadium project received its first award when Stowe Australia took out the NECA Excellence Award for its work on the revolutionary electrical and lighting systems within the Stadium, with stunning light shows a feature of night-time events at Bankwest Stadium.

Economic analysis conducted for City of Parramatta Council showed that, prior to the COVID-19 public health crisis, Bankwest Stadium was bringing a financial benefit of nearly $1 million to Parramatta each time an event was held at the Stadium.

More than 600,000 fans have passed through the Stadium’s turnstiles to witness sport and entertainment events since Bankwest Stadium opened its doors to the public on Sunday 14 April 2019.

An additional 30,000 visitors have attended functions, business meetings, community or cultural events in the same time period.

Bankwest Stadium hosted its first international football event in December when the Westfield Matildas played Chile in front of a crowd of 20,029 – a record attendance for a women’s football match in Australia.

The Stadium has already hosted an international rugby Test, Wallabies v Samoa, on Saturday 7 September, and international rugby league in the form of the Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s on 18-19 October. Rugby’s HSBC Sydney 7s tournament was staged at Bankwest Stadium on 1-2 February.

The Stadium has also hosted historic first concerts featuring Australian rock legends Cold Chisel and Hoodoo Gurus on Friday 24 January and global superstar Elton John on Saturday 7 March. Both events drew capacity crowds.

Bankwest Stadium is a dedicated 30,000-seat Stadium that brings fans closer to the action than ever before and hosts a range of sporting events, concerts, special events, functions and meetings.

Bankwest Stadium is owned by Venues NSW on behalf of the NSW Government and operated by VenuesLive, a leading Australian-based provider of management and hospitality services to venues and events.

The Stadium was designed and constructed by Lendlease in conjunction with architect Populous and engineering company Aurecon and, was delivered by Infrastructure NSW.

• With the major sporting codes having suspended their respective seasons in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bankwest Stadium is not hosting sport and entertainment events until further notice. In the interests of public health, Bankwest Stadium is also closed for meetings, special events and public tours until further notice.

 

Bankwest Stadium’s List of Awards

Silver Medal – Stadium Database Stadium of the Year Awards 2019;

Joint winner – BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure 2019 Project of the Year;

Outstanding Sports & Major Events Project for 2019 – BOOMTOWN! Property & Infrastructure Awards;

Australia’s Best Rectangular Stadium – Austadiums Stadium Of The Year Awards 2019;

National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Excellence Award – Stowe Australia for Bankwest Stadium

Bankwest Stadium has been recognised as the premier sports and events project of the year at the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue’s Project of the Year Awards.

In the latest acknowledgement for a stadium that has changed the event experience in Greater Sydney forevermore, Bankwest Stadium won its category at this year’s awards and now is nominated for overall Greater Western Sydney Project of the Year, which will be announced at Boomtown! Greater Western Sydney’s Property and Infrastructure Dinner on Thursday 28 November.

See the full list of Category award winners here

More than 500,000 fans have passed through the Stadium’s turnstiles to witness sport and entertainment events since Bankwest Stadium opened its doors to the public with a Community Open Day on Sunday 14 April.

An additional 25,000 visitors have attended functions, business meetings, community or cultural events in the same time period.

Bankwest Stadium will host its first international football event this Saturday (9 November) when the Westfield Matildas play Chile in front of what is expected to be a record attendance for a women’s football match in Australia.

The Stadium has already hosted an international rugby Test, Wallabies v Samoa, on Saturday 7 September, and international rugby league in the form of the Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s on 18-19 October. Rugby’s HSBC Sydney 7s tournament will be staged at Bankwest Stadium on 1-2 February.

Thirty-five sport and entertainment events are already locked in for 2020 including historic first concerts featuring Australian rock legends Cold Chisel and Hoodoo Gurus on Friday 24 January, and global superstar Elton John on Saturday 7 March.

Four NRL clubs will play home matches at Bankwest Stadium in season 2020 – the Parramatta Eels (11 games), Wests Tigers (4 games), Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (4 games) and South Sydney Rabbitohs (2 games).

The NSW Waratahs will play three home games at Bankwest Stadium, including blockbuster matches against Queensland Reds (Saturday 18 April) and the Brumbies (Saturday 23 May).

Western Sydney Wanderers made their debut at Bankwest Stadium by hosting storied English club Leeds United on Saturday 20 July and will play all 13 of their home games games in the 2019/20 Hyundai A-League season at the Stadium.

Bankwest Stadium is a dedicated 30,000-seat Stadium built for the fans by the NSW Government and owned by Venues NSW. The Stadium brings fans closer to the action than ever before and hosts a range of sporting events, concerts, special events, functions and meetings.

In September, the Bankwest Stadium project received its first award when Stowe Australia was awarded the NECA Excellence Award for its work on the revolutionary electrical systems within the Stadium.