Heritage Projects

Case Study - Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf

The Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo was built in 1910. The original structure was built of heavy timber for maritime purposes, with dimensions approximately 350 m long x 40 m wide x 20 m high. It featured three halls of 12 m, 16 m and 12 m width, all covered by a continuous corrugated iron roof. The building’s exterior incorporates aprons formerly used as wharves, and street access is from one end only. Almost a century old, the building had fallen into disuse and, for more than a decade, had been vacant. As a result, the entire building fabric was in a poor state of repair. However, the wharf is mounted on piles over the water at Woolloomooloo Bay, near the Opera House and Botanic Gardens, and boasts a central position with spectacular views of Sydney Harbour.

Proposed redevelopment aimed to preserve the original character of the building in line with community expectations. The A$250 million planned conversion, featuring a hotel, prestige apartments and commercial use, maintained the unusual features that are emblems of the building’s maritime past, including the massive timber conveyors used to lift wool bales.

This very individual and innovative conversion presented many challenges in developing a workable fire- and life-safety strategy. Most importantly, the timber structure is, by nature, combustible, and sophisticated performance-based safety strategies were needed to allow the redevelopment to proceed. The expert advice of Stephen Grubits & Associates team was essential throughout the design and construction of the project. Our consultancy was instrumental in ensuring that this historic structure, enhanced by stylish new public areas and facilities, could be preserved so that Sydneysiders and visitors alike may enjoy it for many years to come.

Performance-based approach

Stephen Grubits & Associates shaped the fire-safety engineering strategy for the entire project. An alternative to prescriptive code-compliance was a fundamental requirement. We provided that alternative.

Our team developed, defined and monitored implementation of a unique performance-based conceptual design of the fire-safety system for the entire building. This involved the systematic analysis of a complete range of scenarios and subsystems. It also required an iterative process of consultation between the architect, the designers of all services and systems, the builder and project management team, the regulatory authority and our fire-safety team.

How we worked

We provided a fully integrated fire- and life-safety strategy, that included not only fire-engineering advice but also:

The resulting fire-safety system does not comply with the prescriptive provisions of the Building Code of Australia. However, we were able to demonstrate, using a fire-safety engineering analysis (level 2), that the safety objectives of the building code were achieved using our performance-based system.

Long-term savings in the total fire-safety strategy ultimately determined the project’s viability. For instance, a statutory requirement for an egress tunnel, which would have made the project unfeasible, was waived.

Client benefits

Both short- and long-term savings were realised as a result of our performance-based design.

Short-term savings were made as a result of a rationalisation of fire-resistant protection to barriers. Where the building code would have required fire resistance of three hours, the fire-safety engineering analysis (based on level 1 subsystem equivalence evaluations) found that 90 minutes was sufficient for fires in retail areas and 60 minutes for fires in residential areas. Substantial savings in plasterboard lining thicknesses were achieved.

Large savings were also made on the cost of smoke-removal equipment. Although large fans are generally required by a prescriptive approach, we were able to meet smoke-removal needs through well-designed natural venting.

With the support of the team at Stephen Grubits & Associates, the vision of architects and developers has been realised in this landmark development, which preserves and harmonises with the historic maritime charm of the Woolloomooloo area. Without our commitment to resolving complex safety-related design issues, the construction may never have gone ahead. We are proud that our performance-based fire-engineering design provided the superior safety strategy that helped make this stunning structure possible.

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