Quay Quarter Tower

ADG delivered innovative structural engineering for the International High-Rise Award-winning Quay Quarter Tower, one of the world’s largest building upcycling projects. Transforming AMP Capital’s 40-level tower into a landmark 50-level development adjacent to Sydney Opera House, our world-first design and analysis techniques preserved harbour views while reusing 50% of existing building resources, achieving 7,500 tonnes of carbon savings and $130 million in construction cost reductions across this $700 million development. ADG was the only engineer to meet the architectural vision and complex client development brief and exceed the sustainability targets of the build.

ADG employed world-first design techniques and performance solutions methodology to create an innovative core augmentation system. Our approach involved comprehensive material testing and statistical modelling, digital twin simulations for construction phase analysis, and precise interface detailing between new and existing structures. This solution maximised net lettable area and harbour views while achieving unprecedented sustainability outcomes through strategic reuse of existing structural elements.

ADG’s design solution enabled the elimination of 40-plus levels of large, structural steel bracing from the primary façade and the maximisation of NLA and harbour views for premium, office-grade space.

The solution developed by ADG used world-first design and software analysis techniques to augment the existing core with a new-build core extension to supply the primary lateral support for the new building envelope. At the same time, ADG was able to mitigate project risks and deliver program and budget economics to AMP Capital, thereby altering the project yield to a suitably high level to secure funding and justify construction to shareholders. Guided by the ‘performance solutions’ methodology as permitted by the National Construction Code 2016, ADG successfully determined the contribution of the existing core structure to the overall structure during demolition, as well as its contribution to construction and design life by:

• Evaluating current performance and element stress
• Validating by material inspection, testing and statistical modelling of sampling methods
• Predicting load paths for strength and service performance during staged demolition
• Simulating of the construction phase using digital twins, including total building movement.

Specific services provided included:

• Assessment of structural engineering briefs, reports and performance solutions
• Structural engineering design and documentation of new-build composite floors and atriums
• Structural design and detailing of the interfaces between new and old construction
• Movement and tolerances reporting through the demolition and construction phase
• Timely, accurate and professional advice in relation to structural engineering and safety policies
• Provision of a detailed testing regime for investigation of the existing structure.

Results

While AMP Capital has considered several structural solutions through the concept phase of the project, ADG Engineers’ design successfully integrated the existing structure into the proposed building design, capturing a greater contribution of the existing structure and eliminating the addition of significant strengthening outside the core zone.

As a result, Quay Quarter Tower retained 66 per cent of the building’s existing columns, beams and slabs, and 95 per cent of its internal walls. Approximately 50% of the building’s resources were reused from the existing building, resulting in a total carbon saving of more than 7,500 tonnes and an estimated economic saving of $130 million.

The value provided has been reflected in the final product, which will be delivered with no exoskeleton to take advantage of the panoramic view of Sydney CBD.

The project won the Best Tall Building Worldwide in 2023 from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.