Inglis Sales Arena, Warwick Farm
Project Details
Location: Riverside Sales Complex, Warwick Farm, NSW
Completion Date: January 2018
Size: 3060sqm
Fabric: PTFE - Chukoh FGT800
Client: FDC Construction & Fitout for William Inglis & Sons
The project was the design, fabrication and installation of multiple decorative and functional canopies for the Inglis Sales Arena, part of the Riverside Stables Complex, adjacent to the Warwick Farm Racecourse. The project covered multiple areas and structure types; the horse parade ring; a shelter canopy for the patron walkway for the pre-parade ring; a canopy for the wedding pavilion, and awnings for the hotel.
The Brief
The Inglis Sales Arena project was part of the new Riverside Stables Complex for the Inglis Stables when they relocated from Newmarket to Warwick Farm. The site was designed as a total facility for horse buyers and for corporate and other events.
The pre-parade ring incorporates “fig tree” structures which were designed to pay homage to the Inglis heritage of a large fig tree at the previous Newmarket location.
The patron walkway creates a spine down the centre of the complex and provides a vista from the parade area towards the river. This walkway required both drainage and electrical conduits to be installed but hidden to ensure the architectural intent. This was achieved through the use of hidden gutters above the edge beams on alternating columns; with the alternate columns carrying the electrical connections while directing water to the other columns.
The wedding pavilion is set among the gardens and provides an intimate gazebo-type structure to create a sheltered space for wedding ceremonies. The hotel at the site required awnings on two sides.
The Concept
The main parade structure is an integration of a PTFE membrane awning cover over the horse and pedestrian walkway leading to the two central inverted cones. These cones have custom profiled tapered beam sections to represent fig tree trunks and radiating branches.
Along the awning covers, gutter beams and columns were used as downpipes to reduce the amount of visual services. The architectural intent was strictly followed to best meet the design brief, this challenge was met with close and repeated coordination of the structural system with the architectural scheme.
The “fig tree” structures were complex to both fabricate and install. The fabrication was difficult with flat surfaces descending into steep cones. The tree steel installation required all our highly experienced project personnel to be involved in developing the method to ensure stability of the framework until the structure became self-supporting. Only some of the fabric joints were mechanical; with the majority being site-welded field joints.
The Materials
The customer expressed the desire for their new stable and buying complex to be a long lasting location for their business. The project utilized Chukoh FGT800 PTFE for both longevity and durability as well as the lower lifecycle maintenance costs expected compared to PVC products. To minimize the number of unsightly field joints and closures in the fabric skins, most field joints and flashings were site welded; this enhanced the lightweight nature and aspect of the roof.
The structural steelwork involved a large amount of custom tapered sections along with highly curved architectural elements. Accordingly, the fabrication work had to be a very high standard to deliver the required finish quality. Reference samples of welding were prepared and painted so that the final outcome could be assessed ahead of fabrication. Multiple reviews and inspections through fabrication were undertaken to minimize visual issues in the finished product – a key focus of the project architect was to have a finished product of the highest visual quality.
The Result
An iconic name in the Australia racing and livestock industry since 1867, when William Inglis & Sons chose to move the Inglis Sales Arena to the centre of Sydney, they developed a high-end, luxury thoroughbred sales complex, surrounded by a luxury hotel and entertainment precinct.
As befitting the “sport of kings”, the quality finish to Inglis Sales Arena is crowned by an series architecturally unique PTFE shade canopies, built to resemble the famous Moreton Bay Fig trees from the companies original Newmarket site. The MakMax engineered, fabricated and installed canopies protect patrons and buyer for the heat of the sun.
“The purpose-built complex has already been given rave reviews from the racing industry and Webster is proud of the achievement of moving Inglis to the geographic centre of Sydney and securing Inglis’ future.” Chris Roots, Sydney Morning Herald.
