Sandstone Buildings

Disciplines
Acoustics, Electrical, Hydraulics, Mechanical, Sustainability

Markets
Hospitality

Offices
Sydney

Key People

Joseph Walsh

Mechanical Engineer, Director

Rowan Barwood

Electrical Section Manager, Principal

Olivier Gaussen

National Acoustics Coordinator, Principal

David Steblina

Hydraulics Project Engineer, Principal

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The Sandstone Buildings project involves the redevelopment, restoration and reinvention of the Department of Lands Building, the Department of Education Building and the adjacent urban context of Sydney’s heritage Sandstone Precinct. The project encompasses two entire blocks of the Sydney CBD and features detailed colonial architecture dating back to the late 1800s.

Patina Hotels & Resorts and the Pontiac Land Group’s vision is to create one of the finest hotels in the world, in the heart of Sydney’s Central Business District. The new hotel is set to include a swimming pool, day Spa, restaurants, rooftop bar, ballroom and nine levels of guest accommodation.

WGE have been engaged to provide mechanical, electrical, communication, security, Fire protection, hydraulics, pool services and sustainability design for the project.

Design challenges include:

• Achieving floor-to-floor and sole-occupancy acoustic separation within heritage constraints
• Ensuring services reticulation meets acoustic performance requirements
• Providing building services to meet the complex requirements of a hotel whilst minimising impact on the heritage façade and architectural features
• Power supply to the site was negotiated with the authority to be provided from adjacent buildings to reduce impact

Design features include:

• Mechanical services will rely on a centralised system housed in a tunnel connecting the two buildings
• Fire protection is designed to be serviced through a single and shared water and boosting source
• Feasibility studies will be carried out to determine if existing water, sewer, stormwater and gas connections can be reused to minimise impact on increased excavation and effect on undermining footings
• Feature lighting to highlight architectural features in public areas such as ground floor entry and lift lobbies

Read about the project on the Sydney Morning Herald’s website.