Every existing building tells a different story. Good engineering starts there.

SFE assessed the existing structure to determine suitable support arrangements for the new HVAC equipment and worked with stakeholders to identify discreet pathways for services entering the building, keeping new interventions sympathetic to the existing heritage fabric.

For the external plant platform, the structural steel framing and screw pile layout were carefully coordinated against known underground services to minimise conflicts and avoid unnecessary relocation works.

The project delivered the structural framework needed for critical upgrades to the theatre’s environmental control systems while respecting its heritage significance.

By integrating new services sensitively within the existing structure and coordinating foundations around existing infrastructure, the team achieved a practical, cost-effective solution with minimal impact on heritage fabric and site operations.

Rather than accepting previous assumptions, SFE undertook a deeper investigation into the building’s condition. This included invasive inspections, exposing concealed construction, mortar sampling, brick testing and detailed assessment of the masonry structure itself.

The investigation revealed that the primary issue was not ongoing footing movement but severe deterioration of the original mortar. In some locations the mortar had degraded to the point where loose sand could be blown directly from the masonry joints.

Understanding this distinction fundamentally changed the remediation strategy. The focus shifted toward deep repointing, targeted masonry repair, seismic strengthening and floor capacity upgrades designed to support the building’s future use.

By identifying the actual cause of deterioration rather than simply treating the symptoms, the project established a clearer path forward for the preservation and adaptation of one of Melbourne’s most significant early residential buildings.

The result demonstrates the value of carefully listening to what an existing building is telling you before deciding how to intervene.

The project also provided a pathway for future adaptive reuse through seismic compliance upgrades, increased floor loading capacity and targeted structural improvements designed to support the building’s next chapter.

SFE’s involvement began with a review of an existing demolition methodology proposed for construction equipment operating on the existing floor structure. Using first-principles engineering and experience working with heritage buildings, a more efficient structural solution was developed that avoided extensive temporary works and unnecessary strengthening.

That initial engagement evolved into a broader role supporting demolition engineering, temporary works design, structural alteration and strengthening. Detailed staging methodologies were developed to maintain stability as floors, restraints and structural elements were progressively removed and reconstructed.

Particular attention was given to temporary support of basement walls and slender columns while the ground floor structure was modified to deliver the architect’s vision.

The project demonstrates how careful engineering can unlock opportunities within existing buildings that might otherwise appear too difficult, risky or expensive to pursue.

By combining temporary works, demolition sequencing, strengthening and adaptive reuse strategy, the project creates a new future for a significant heritage building while preserving the character that makes it worth keeping in the first place.

SFE became closely involved in evaluating how the retained building might accommodate vertical expansion, adaptive reuse and contemporary residential requirements.

Concept development included investigation of lightweight mass-timber construction, structural strengthening strategies and methods of integrating new building systems with the existing concrete frame. Throughout the process, multiple pathways have continued to be explored, balancing structural constraints, project objectives, development potential and long-term viability.

Rather than beginning with an assumption that demolition or retention was the correct answer, the project has focused on understanding the existing asset and testing what opportunities may be unlocked through careful engineering.

The project remains in the design phase, but it already demonstrates one of the most important principles of working with existing buildings: meaningful opportunities often emerge only after the existing structure has been properly understood.

Whether the final outcome involves vertical expansion, adaptive reuse, significant strengthening or a different pathway altogether, the investigation process is helping the project team make informed decisions based on evidence rather than assumption.

The project highlights the role structural engineering can play in identifying future possibilities before major decisions are made.