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Enabling viable commercial developments in our cities is vital for continued economic growth and the development of prosperous communities. Preserving the rich history of cities – our heritage buildings and infrastructure – is also key in bringing benefits to a community’s culture and for the local economy.
271 Spring Street is a 15,600m2, 16-level boutique office building, located in one of Melbourne’s most historic precincts and is a benchmark example of balancing the needs of commercial developers with heritage preservation in an area significantly constrained by complex existing infrastructure.
Collaborating with John Wardle Architects, our team of specialists provided solutions for a design which maximised floor plates and created opportunities for an exciting new contemporary workplace to be integrated from the ground floor into the heritage buildings, including an outdoor garden mezzanine space, and horizontal and vertical connectivity for improved team based collaboration and performance.
Arup’s solution proved to be more efficient, cost effective and maximised commercial opportunities for ISPT more than previous schemes on the site.
Project Summary
4 underground rail tunnels,
3heritage / existing buildings to integrate
Solving a challenging problem
With a number of existing complex site constraints, our team was invited to review the scheme. The process was a reimagining of the tower through a collaborative engineering led process involving architect, client and stakeholders. The result was a commercially viable and flexible commercial development.
“Using engineering led solutions which first responded to the constraints and then informed the design, we managed to design a building that was of a sufficient scale to yield a level of rent that would ultimately enable the building to stack up commercially. ”
Richard Salter Melbourne Structures Leader
3D models
Through the use of intelligent analytic tools – a combination of 3D building models integrated into superstructure and substructure analysis models – our specialists enabled well considered options to be assessed, and led to a convergence on a solution that is currently being built.
We utilised ground plane stiffness models in combination with superstructure stability options to assess possible building and foundation geometries that satisfied the constraints, yet didn’t create structures beyond the proportions of what would be commercially and practically appropriate for the scale of building (net-lettable area) which was being supported.
Through real time collaboration, integration of structural and higher order geotechnical analysis was possible, which was an enabler and a differentiator for this project.
Digital tools
Arup used GSA (Arup’s developed structural analysis software) Etabs, Safe, Ramsteel and Plaxis to consider all of these options and their interactions with the ground and the various constraints.
With our innovative analysis, an intelligent, coordinated, readily constructible solution was identified, combining façade, rooftop, and superstructure-bracing elements, a side core and shallow foundations which will successfully facilitate an architecturally stunning building with a multi-purpose floor plate in a sensitive urban environment.
Award wins
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Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards – Victoria Division 2020
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Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) – Best Tall Building under 100 meters 2020
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ASI Steel Excellence Awards – Victoria Division, Buildings: Large Projects 2020
