Celia Choong
Senior Marketing Consultant,Singapore
Friday 5th April 2013 marks Arup’s 50th anniversary in Australia, after establishing a presence in the country in 1963, when entrusted with the structural design of Sydney Opera House.
Fifty years ago nearly every Arup engineer across the globe was busy working on a building that would become one of the world’s great icons. It was a project few firms considered tackling because of its complexity, yet Arup rose to the challenge and after a group of talented engineers moved to Sydney to complete the design and supervise construction, Arup’s Australian practice was born.
While the Sydney Opera House project became a defining one for Arup, in the following decades we have continued to strengthen our presence in Australia and enhance our reputation for innovative and collaborative design. Over the last half a century we have created a strong springboard for the future and together, we will continue to help transition our world to an Ecological Age by 2050.
Arup has designed iconic and heritage listed structures, connected cities through IT and resources infrastructure, designed communities and influenced transport networks across the country.
Peter Bailey, CEO and Chair of Arup in Australia commented: “In our 50 years of operation in Australia we have strived to approach our projects from a different angle, which has enabled us to realise and establish innovations that are now best practice in our industry.”
As we celebrate our story so far, we also continue to look ahead, undertaking projects and investing in initiatives that will help transition our world to an Ecological Age by 2050. Arup sees an opportunity to continue to influence the direction of the nation to become more liveable, interconnected, competitive and sustainable.
“We aspire to live up to our tagline, ‘we shape a better world’, and we are increasingly working with clients to address the challenges from changing climate, depleting resources and the shifting needs of a diverse society.
- Peter Bailey, CEO and Chair of Arup in Australia
With current work encompassing cities, connectivity, healthy people, environment and communities, and resources, Arup is in a position to effect real and long-term change in the way Australia grows.
Arup’s involvement in notable projects and milestones through the decades include: Sydney Opera House Nab Tower, MelbourneBrisbane International AirportSydney Football Stadium, SydneyDarling Harbour Exhibition Centre, SydneyYulara Tourist Resort, UluruRobert Clarke Horticultural Centre, VicSubiaco Rail Station, PerthThe Spencer Street Footbridge, MelbourneVietnam War Memorial, CanberraPacific Highway upgrading, NSWCairns Convention CentreAurora Place, SydneySuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneAdelaide ZooWalter and Eliza Hall Institute, MelbourneRegional Rail Link, VictoriaAAMI Park Stadium, MelbourneBrisbane Airport Link
Key links: Arup’s story over the years, an interactive timeline: www.50.arup.com.auABC’s online documentary, The Opera House Project tells the story of the opera house, from concept design and architecture, to engineering, construction and beyond