The Adelaide Convention Centre is an impressive landmark on Adelaide’s Riverbank, the Centre comprises of three independent but seamlessly integrated buildings. Each building takes advantage of the prime positioning on the River Torrens, providing extensive natural light and panoramic views of the river. Stages 1 and 2 of this development, involved the construction of approximately 7,500m2 of additional convention space. The ACC is designed to operate as a single, unified facility or as three stand-alone venues with dedicated arrival points and distinct identities.
Key technical challenges
- Erection over live rail (RBG conducted a feasibility investigation into crash deck – to reduce the likelihood of fallen members penetrating the slab)
- Primary frame was erected over a deck that required strengthening for craneage
Stage 1
Expands the facility over active railway lines to create a new city edge. This expansion incorporates interconnecting meeting rooms, flexible plenary halls and function facilities. RBG’s role was to provide construction engineering, staged erection stress analysis and design review of the proposed structures. The Adelaide railway station, being the central terminus of the Adelaide metro rail network, was to remain operational throughout the construction period of approximately 3 years. In our role as lead construction engineers for this iconic building RBG developed a construction methodology that ensured the safety of commuters and workers throughout the project. As part of this methodology RBG completed a feasibility investigation into a crash deck – to reduce the likelihood of fallen members penetrating the slab – and developed safe work methodologies for lifting the 4,000+ structural members required to construct the project.
Stage 2
Stage 2 consisted of the replacement of the existing plenary building with a more functional, highly flexible, multi-purpose facility including capacity for up to 3,500 seats or 3,000 square metres of flat floor space. The structure included the construction of moveable seating in both vertical and rotation directions. RBG provided Temporary Works Design, Construction Sequencing, Erection Stress Analysis and Crane Lift Studies.