Melbourne & Olympic Parks (M&OP) has unveiled the name of their new function and media centre, CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park.
Located on the south-eastern edge of Melbourne’s spirited CBD, CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park is positioned in the centre of the precinct, and scheduled for completion in late 2021.
The venue’s architectural design pays homage to the native Australian landscape, while its food menu, curated by culinary leader Asif Mamun, Executive Chef of Delaware North, will showcase locally sourced seasonal produce, driven by a paddock to plate philosophy. The team will also explore collaborations with local Victorian wineries, breweries and distilleries, set to elevate the catering experience even further and highlight the incredible produce that the state has to offer.
“Melbourne & Olympic Parks is truly one of a kind, with nowhere else in the world offering a series of unique event spaces, all connected to the thriving heart of the city. CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park will join our impressive lineup of venues, and be all-inviting for those looking for an unparalleled event experience,” said Lara Burnes, General Manager, Premier Events & Experiences.
“We’re looking forward to early 2022 to see our new venue become home to some of Melbourne’s most eventful and marvellous moments,” said Ms Burnes.
With the capability and flexibility to host both large-scale and smaller, intimate events, construction on the centre is under way, with the precinct’s surrounding grounds already levelled out, representing the third and final stage of its $972 million redevelopment.
Civic in design, the architecturally impressive concept is quintessentially Melbourne and will include eight and a half metre high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, projecting natural light across a generous 2,000 square metre, pillarless ballroom and 800 square metre pre-function area. Across two levels, the upper floor will feature a 250-seat auditorium, with 15 breakout rooms and outdoor terraces with uninterrupted views of the Melbourne city skyline.
Leading the design, NH Architecture and Snøhetta Director, Hamish Lyon, said “The design of CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park plays on the strengths of its location—the heart of the precinct’s parklands nestled next to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Yarra River, its proximity to the city, and the site’s proud sporting and entertainment history. It is distinctively Melbourne, intrinsically linked—physically, culturally and emotionally.”
