David Leonard
Profile: Structural EngineerRole: Senior Associate, StructuralLocation: Sydney, NSW In the specialised field of heritage conservation, the role of a structural engineer extends far beyond calculations. It requires a deep respect for historical fabric, a meticulous eye for detail, and the ability to integrate modern safety standards into structures never intended to meet them. As a […]
Wentworth Mausoleum
Client: Museums of History, NSWGeotech: Douglas PartnersLocation: Vaucluse, NSW The Wentworth Mausoleum stands as one of Australia’s most significant funerary monuments and serves as the final resting place for William Charles Wentworth, who was the primary author of the first draft of the New South Wales constitution. Constructed in the 1870s, this State Heritage-listed structure […]
The Glasshouse Restoration
Architect: Cracknell + LonerganBuilder: Peter LucasLocation: Castlecrag, NSW Positioned within the steep bushland of North Sydney, the Glasshouse at Castlecrag is an essential piece of Australia’s mid-century architectural heritage. Designed by Bill Lucas and completed around 1957, this State Heritage-listed residence is a defining example of post-war structural experimentation. Partridge was recently engaged to perform […]
Lyons House Restoration
Architect: Cracknell + LonerganBuilder: Peter LucasLocation: Dolans Bay, NSW The Lyons House in Dolans Bay, a State Heritage-listed residence designed by the influential architect Robin Boyd, represents a bold exploration of form and structural balance. Constructed around 1967, the two-storey building is characterised by a first floor that cantilevers approximately 3.5 metres beyond the ground […]
Woolloomooloo Murals
Client: City of Sydney, Public Art ConservationLocation: Sydney, NSW The Woolloomooloo Mural Project stands as a significant landmark in Sydney’s cultural landscape, born from the community’s resistance to the redevelopment of the 1970s. Located on the concrete pylons of the Eastern Suburbs Railway overpass, these sixteen murals capture the stories of the people who fought […]
Abbotsford Convent
Architect: Abbotsford Convent FoundationLocation: Abbotsford, VIC The Abbotsford Convent represents a unique intersection of Melbourne’s heritage and its contemporary arts scene. The grand Convent building was constructed in 1901 to serve as the headquarters for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Once a bustling hive of activity that housed 150 Sisters, the precinct has since […]
Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe
Client: Sculpture by the SeaLocation: Cottesloe, WA After a year away, Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe returned in 2026, and Partridge was again involved as both a sponsor and a member of the engineering review team supporting the event. Partridge participated from the early planning stages through to the final inspection prior to opening. Through […]
Endurance
Artist: Dean CollsLocation: St Kilda, VIC Installed along St Kilda Road, Endurance by Dean Colls is a four-metre bronze sculpture that sits directly within the public realm. Colls uses the modest form of a pair of fish to explore vulnerability, stoicism and collective existence. Positioned slightly at odds with one another, the sardines appear both […]
Ocean House
Architect: Woodward ArchitectsBuilder: Baily ConstructionsLocation: North Avoca, NSW Designed by Matthew Woodward Architecture, Ocean House sits close to the shoreline at North Avoca. Partridge worked closely with the architect to deliver the structural and hydraulic engineering, supporting the design vision while addressing the challenges of an exposed coastal environment. The project introduces a secondary dwelling […]
Nikki Akbari
Role: Associate, StructuralLocation: Sydney, NSW For Nikki Akbari, some of the most practical lessons in structural engineering have been gathered far from the office. During a recent presentation to the Association of Consulting Structural Engineers (ACSE) New South Wales, she shared how the daily realities of raising young children have refined the very skills required […]
Headland House
Architect: Richards StanisichBuilder: Alvarez ConstructionsLocation: South Bondi. NSW Transforming an original Art Deco apartment building on the South Bondi headland into a single residence required more than careful design. The project, designed by Richards Stanisich, demanded a structural approach capable of supporting significant changes while preserving the building’s character. The external masonry walls were retained, […]
Staircases
“Stairs are your teacher; they teach you to be stronger… and every time life puts some stairs before you, accept them as a present,” wrote the Turkish playwright and philosopher Mehmet Murat Ildan. For structural engineers, the sentiment resonates in a different way. Designing stairs presents constant opportunities to learn, to resolve complex structural challenges, […]