Brisbane-based BESIX Watpac to build $653m stadium in Christchurch

Brisbane-headquartered construction company BESIX Watpac has secured a contract to build a new $653 million multi-use stadium for the Christchurch City Council.

The project will be the company’s first New Zealand project and its largest currently under construction, building a stadium that will be one of only two in the world with a fully enclosed roof and natural grass playing field.

The company’s appointment as the lead contractor follows more than a year of design of ‘Te Kaha’, with Watpac joining architects Warren and Mahoney and global stadium design experts Populous and Mott Macdonald to deliver the ambitious project.

BESIX Watpac CEO Mark Baker welcomed today’s announcement and said it was a landmark moment for the Queensland-born construction company.

“BESIX Watpac started out as a local construction firm in 1983 and has worked in some capacity on nearly every major stadium and venue in Queensland,” Baker said.

“Internationally the BESIX Group has completed some of the world’s most iconic stadiums, but this will be our first stadium build in New Zealand.

“To win this project is a major milestone and validation of our position as stadia experts.”

Te Kaha will be capable of facilitating world-class sporting matches and international entertainment acts, and will be built to withstand Christchurch’s seismic activity not only on completion but during construction too.

Located just six minutes from the Christchurch Bus Interchange, Te Kaha will be 232 metres long, 195 metres wide, and 47 metres high.

The stadium will have a maximum capacity of 36,000 for full size concerts in arena mode and 13,590 in a cut-down mode, with a minimum of four player change rooms, and food and beverage amenity for 25,000 patrons.

The construction firm, which is Belgium-owned following BESIX's $100 million takeover of Watpac in 2018, is also working with local New Zealand construction company Southbase to deliver the project, and said it will use local trades and suppliers where possible to manage cost in the construction schedule.

The company has significant experience in building stadiums, having been behind the construction of some of Queensland's largest stadiums including Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville and Cubs Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.

It was also behind the build of some iconic megastructures, including the world's tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Ferrari World indoor theme park - also in the United Arab Emirates.

Today, the group has more than $7.4 billion of work in hand and is operating in 25 countries, employing 13,000 people.