The new building designed by HBO+EMTB that will be the home of Rugby League has opened in Sydney.

The newly completed Rugby League Central building is adjacent to the Sydney Football Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The building was designed by the multi-disciplinary design house HBO+EMTB.

The firm was responsible for both the building architecture and the interior design. The 3,600 square metre facility comprises three storeys of purpose built accommodation plus a rooftop entertaining terrace and basement parking.

HBO+EMTB managing director Kevin Fitzgerald says Rugby League Central has been designed to bring together five separate rugby league organisations: NRL, ARL, NSWRL, NSW Country League and ARL Development.

“This project is an excellent example of harnessing the power of design as an agent for organisational change,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“The challenge was to successfully bring together five organisations from one code with, nonetheless, differing cultures and histories.

“The interior layout is designed to facilitate cooperation, interaction and commonality of purpose while recognising and celebrating individual histories and achievements.

“At the forefront of our design has been a theme of ‘One Home - One Community’.

“The focal point of the building is a dramatic oval shaped core that forms a three-storey atrium/lobby, symbolising a rugby league football. This core structure rises above the main envelope of the building to enunciate the building’s function.

“The workspaces are largely open plan but each member organisation has its own regional cluster with graphic cues, including team colours and large-scale images of their respective players in action.

“Another unifying design feature is the liberal use of the chevron, the one symbol consistent throughout all bodies in rugby league. It is prominent in the foyer in several timber feature walls, in glazed areas on different floors and on the exterior fin of the building,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation The Hon Graham Annesley MP, who was involved with the project from its formative plans said the new building is “a wonderful centrepiece and a unifying symbol of a sport which is an integral part of the rich Australian sporting landscape and culture.”

As well as administrative areas for each of the five organisations the building includes a number of special use areas.

The ground floor incorporates an interactive learning centre for youth education and community development uses. The interior is designed to evoke the feeling of being at a league match and includes stadium style seating complete with goal posts and carpet incorporating football field markings.

There are two main meeting rooms: one branded for indigenous rugby league, the other for State of Origin.

A special purpose judiciary room also doubles as a conference and media room and the rooftop area features an open terrace with expansive park and city views.

It was officially opened by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP and NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, the Hon Graham Annesley MP at an event to mark the commencement of a new era in the game.

The event also marked the launch of the Australian Rugby League Commission and was presided over by the commission’s new chairman Mr John Grant, and ARLC Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop.

David Wheeldon

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