Fortress Melbourne, destined to become the largest eSports complex in the southern hemisphere, will not just become a refuge for the hardcore gamer, it will also cater to casual gamers and after-work crowds.
The Populous-designed, 29,000-sf venue will have a 1,000-person capacity and include 160 gaming PCs, console gaming suits, a restaurant, two bars, and a 200-seat esports arena spread across two floors. Fortress Melbourne is being designed as a celebration of gaming and will feature retro arcade games, the latest LAN games, and virtual reality.
“The venue is designed to create an engaging experience for devoted esports fans and casual gamers alike, bringing everyone together in the one space,”” said Brayden Goodwin, Architect and Project lead, Populous. “The vibe is similar to a traditional bar or club.”
See Also: This will be the Western Hemisphere’s first purpose-built eSports arena
AV technology, digital screens, and LED lighting enhance the space and can be adapted to fit a specific game or event. The goal is to create a sensory experience so guests can immerse themselves in the games. Located in Melbourne’s Emporium precinct, Fortress Melbourne is slated to open in 2020.
Related Stories
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Gensler, Perkins+Will, NBBJ top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest architecture firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
2014 Giants 300 Report
Building Design+Construction magazine's annual ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S.
| Jul 17, 2014
A new, vibrant waterfront for the capital
Plans to improve Washington D.C.'s Potomac River waterfront by Maine Ave. have been discussed for years. Finally, The Wharf has started its first phase of construction.
| Jul 8, 2014
Does Zaha Hadid’s Tokyo Olympic Stadium have a design flaw?
After being criticized for the cost and size of her stadium design for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, a Japanese architect points out a major design flaw in the stadium that may endanger the spectators.
| Jul 8, 2014
Frank Lloyd Wright's posthumous gas station opens in Buffalo
Eighty-seven years after Frank Lloyd Wright designed an ornamental gas station for the city of Buffalo, the structure has been built and opened to the public—inside an auto museum.
| Jul 7, 2014
7 emerging design trends in brick buildings
From wild architectural shapes to unique color blends and pattern arrangements, these projects demonstrate the design possibilities of brick.
| Jul 7, 2014
A climate-controlled city is Dubai's newest colossal project
To add to Dubai's already impressive portfolio of world's tallest tower and world's largest natural flower garden, Dubai Holding has plans to build the world's largest climate-controlled city.
| Jul 3, 2014
Arthur Ashe Stadium the latest to tap Birdair
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and ROSSETTI, the architect of record for the Arthur Ashe Stadium, tapped Birdair to supply a 210,000-square-foot, PTFE membrane, retractable roof, expected to be installed by 2016.
| Jul 2, 2014
First Look: Qatar World Cup stadium design references nomadic heritage
Organizers of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, recently unveiled designs for the second stadium.
| Jul 2, 2014
Emerging trends in commercial flooring
Rectangular tiles, digital graphic applications, the resurgence of terrazzo, and product transparency headline today’s commercial flooring trends.