Docklands, Victoria, Australia
The Victorian Government invested $225 million in the redevelopment of the iconic Marvel Stadium in Docklands, the first major upgrade since the venue opened in 2000. The project, delivered by John Holland and officially opened in March 2024, transformed the stadium and surrounding precinct into a year-round sport, entertainment and community destination, with new public plazas, expanded concourses and improved connections to Melbourne’s CBD.
As part of the project’s Environmentally Sustainable Design strategy, Dewick & Associates was engaged to author three key engineering reports that document the building’s design, construction and high-level life cycle performance.
Our scope sat alongside the project’s NABERS Energy 5-star and Green Star Office As-Built v3 6-star ratings, with the reports designed to give the operator a structured, long-term view of how the stadium’s services, materials and life cycle costs work together over a 50-year horizon.
By Louise Gardner
Credit: The Marvel Stadium during curtain raiser.jpg by Aspirex is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Region
Client
Completion Date
Project Value
John Holland is one of Australia’s leading construction businesses, with a strong record of delivering and upgrading major infrastructure in Victoria, including projects at the MCG and the Victorian Heart Hospital alongside multiple Metro Trains and level crossing removal works.
For the Marvel Stadium Redevelopment, John Holland was appointed by the AFL and Victorian Government as construction partner, delivering the works across multiple Separable Portions while keeping the stadium operational throughout. With the project targeting NABERS Energy 5-star and Green Star Office As-Built v3 6-star ratings, John Holland required an documentation partner who could produce reports that satisfied both rating requirements and long-term operational planning needs.
Engineering reporting for a major stadium redevelopment extends well beyond standard building handover documentation. With a capacity of 55,000 spectators, the venue incorporates complex mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, fire protection, audio-visual, security, ICT and vertical transportation systems, all delivered across multiple Separable Portions while the stadium remained operational.
The reporting needed to document how these systems interact, identify maintenance and replacement requirements, and provide a clear picture of capital expenditure, ongoing maintenance costs and asset renewal over a 50-year lifecycle. It also had to support the project’s sustainability objectives by aligning with NABERS and Green Star requirements, while meeting the client’s technical and reporting standards.
Dewick & Associates produced three coordinated reports for the project, authored by our in-house Chartered Engineers. Each report was produced to align with Green Star, LEED, BREEAM and the project’s specific client requirements.
The project resulted in a structured suite of engineering reports that supports the long-term operation of one of Australia’s most prominent sport and entertainment venues. The Marvel Stadium operations team has a clear framework for managing system integration, planning maintenance, access and replacement over time, and tracking life cycle costs and environmental performance against the project’s sustainability targets.
For John Holland, the reports close out a high-profile element of the project’s ESD strategy and demonstrate how structured technical reporting can leave a lasting impression on a venue’s end users. With the redevelopment officially opened in March 2024 and now operating as a 365-day-a-year hub for Victorians and visitors alike, the documentation underpins a stadium that will continue to evolve over the years to come.
The content in this case study has been informed by project documentation and client communication provided to Dewick & Associates during and following the completion of the project. Where external sources have contributed to our understanding of relevant standards or industry practice, these are listed below.
Marvel Stadium during curtain raiser by Aspirex, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Note: Some content in this case study draws on a combination of sources rather than direct quotation. Where this is the case, contributing sources are acknowledged above rather than cited inline.
Direct access to a dedicated Client Coordinator who oversees the process and ensures deadlines are met.
Outsource to our expert team so you can stay focused on delivering high-quality on-site construction
