Heritage Archives - MM Structural Engineering

House in Darlinghurst

George Adams — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 05:23:03 +0000

This unique inner city Sydney project involved the adaptive re-use and complete repurposing of a heritage electrical substation building into a single residence with roof top terrace and pool. The original condition masonry utility building was stripped internally, with new floor levels re-worked to maximise the useable floorspace of the new residence on the small footprint site. Restricted access via inner city laneways made the building works challenging and the structural design addressed this to aid the building process by controlling member lengths and using splice connections where possible.

A main feature of the project is the glass brick screen which surrounds the rooftop terrace that was structurally designed to conceal the strengthening elements and allow the glass bricks to run continuous. The heritage sensitive structures were temporarily supported and preserved during the works and the project was the recipient of multiple heritage awards.

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Museum of Contemporary Art, Circular Quay, Sydney

George Adams — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:05:01 +0000

The project involved extensions and significant alterations to the existing building at Circular Quay in Sydney to provide new gallery space, circulation space, offices, a theatre and educational facilities. A new function space has been provided on top of the original building and a seawater exchange system saves 30% on energy costs for the museum.
The site of the new building contains a number of heritage remains listed with State and National significance requiring large transfer structures to span the sensitive areas that exist beneath ground level.

A large 15 m cantilever of the entrances is generated by hanging walls tying back to the reinforced concrete core and stair walls.

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Australian Museum – Crystal Hall

MM Structural Engineering — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:14:08 +0000

The Australian Museum is the nation’s oldest and one of it’s most important scientific research, educational and cultural institutions. The new Crystal Hall entry project is a feature glass clad, steel framed structure of slender structural proportions and refined complex structural detailing.

The structural design is responsive to the site and heritage building constraints as the new building stands 3.0m off the existing museum and provides only a discreet new link way into the existing building thereby minimising risk and disturbance to the museum operations and curatorial assets, providing a new energy efficient world class entry and circulation area while adding the first new exhibition space to the Museum in 50 years.

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Eveleigh Carriageworks

MM Structural Engineering — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:05:01 +0000

This project involved the refurbishment of the existing heritage listed railway carriageworks in Redfern to incorporate a new performing arts centre, carparking and studio space for the Ministry of Arts.
The spaces included a new foyer space, large performance theatre, a medium and small performance space and 3 studio/ training rooms, together with new offices and back of house facilities.

Due to the proximity to the existing railway tracks, the main auditorium was designed as an acoustically isolated box and was cut into the existing structure without touching it. The box was isolated form the ground by the use of acoustic bearing pads beneath a precast base to the new structure.
The trusses removed from the existing roof were re-used in the “dancing” structure that provided the signage at the front of the building.

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Juanita Nielsen Community Centre Upgrade

MM Structural Engineering — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:05:01 +0000

The refurbishment, upgrade and extensions to the existing community centre facility in Woolloomooloo included a gym and childcare facility along with meeting rooms and operable walls to divide or combine spaces for the differing needs of the local community groups.

The structural design of the timber roof trusses is a solution that accommodated a traditional roof truss form but with a significant change in the falls and geometry of the roof surfaces and the feature timber clad ceiling on the project reflect this fundamental change to what would otherwise have been a conventional structure. The central stairs of the gathering space is a unique folded reinforced concrete sawtooth flight stairs of coloured concrete.

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Paddington Reservoir Gardens

MM Structural Engineering — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:34:04 +0000

Originally built in two stages in 1866 and 1878, this heritage reservoir in Paddington has been converted and its use adapted to incorporate gardens, public access and provision for future commercial space.
The work required structural stabilisation and repair of the existing brick vaulted roof arch structures while safely maintaining the ruined character of the space. New reinforced concrete feature works strengthen the original dilapidated structures while ensuring their integrity into the future and soaring new steel framed shade structures reflect the arch forms of the original reservoir roof with the new urban park made fully accessible via new lift access and ramps.

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Eternity Playhouse

MM Structural Engineering — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:58:18 +0000

Eternity Playhouse Theatre is an adaptive re-use project that re worked the Burton Street Tabernacle building in Sydney’s Darlinghurst, into a 200 seat modern intimate theatre. Originally built in 1872 the building operated as an inner city Baptist for almost 110 years and had fallen into disrepair before City of Sydney purchased the building. Significant structural repair and upgrade works were carried out as part of upgrade while sensitively preserving the heritage structures and elements of the building and incorporating them into a new theatre experience for Sydney with a feature steel plate stairs and original floor boards re used as ceiling finishes. The theatre has received multiple heritage awards for adaptive re-use and recognition by the National Trust of Australia.

More information is available at:

Eternity Playhouse

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Cockatoo Island Works

MM Structural Engineering — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:58:18 +0000

MM Structural Engineering has provided ongoing advice and structural engineering review and design services to SHFT for works on Cockatoo Island since 2005. The island has a rich industrial heritage and it is always interesting to be involved with the planning and adaptive re use of the island. Our services have covered advice on the new island clifftop walkway, café, convict cells, tunnel advice, heritage plant stabilisation and make safe works, roof structures, B+B houses and refurbishment.

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88 George Street, The Rocks

MM Structural Engineering — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 11:58:18 +0000

This six level building with commercial and retail space was Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authorities first major initiative since announcing its sustainability strategy.

The building’s upgrade had a project focus on waste minimisation and energy efficiency and upon completion, 88 George became the first State heritage listed building to achieve an Australian excellence rating or 5 Star Green Star Office Design rating which set a new benchmark for heritage refurbishments by both government and the private sector.

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