Architect: Collins & Turner
Builder: Kane Construction
Client: City of Sydney
Location: Alexandria, NSW
Work is progressing at the Huntley Street Recreation Centre, where Partridge is providing structural engineering for the adaptive reuse of a former warehouse structure built in the 1980s. Engaged by the City of Sydney and working closely with the architects and Collins + Turner, the project involves repurposing the original steel portal framed warehouse with concrete first floor mezzanine to support its new life as a public recreation facility.
A key focus has been the retention of the original structural steel structure, which remain in good condition despite signs of surface corrosion where portal columns extended below the ground floor slab. The project team opted for laser cleaning to remove surface rust, this non-abrasive method allowed for precise removal of corrosion without damaging the parent material or surrounding finishes.
Following the laser treatment, the remaining flange / web thickness of the portal column was surveyed to confirm that it meets the required structural requirements.
At the first-floor level, Partridge has also designed structural strengthening of the slab and beams using carbon fibre reinforcement, delivered by Slabtec. The set out of the carbon fibre strengthening was carefully co-ordinated with the architectural team as much of the slab soffit is being architecturally expressed. Carbon fibre adds minimal weight and avoids the need for demolition or invasive construction, making it well suited to retrofit projects.
With the scale of changes required to the existing structure, Partridge was responsible for bringing it up to current design standards. A key focus was the external tilt-up concrete panels, which needed to remain safe and stable under all conditions. To address this, we carried out a detailed fire assessment to predict the temperatures the panels and supporting structure could experience in the event of a fire.
The assessment informed the design of deformable steel brackets, which were installed to secure the panels to the portal frame, ensuring they would stay connected and perform as intended even under elevated temperatures. This approach allowed the project to meet modern compliance requirements while maintaining the integrity and visual continuity of the original structure.
Further updates will follow as the recreation centre moves closer to completion.
https://www.kane.com.au/project/huntley-st-recreation-centre
