Karlie Collis
Director | Principal | Senior Structural Engineer- Board
- Director
- Leadership
- Principal
Project
Newington College’s Eungai Creek Campus provides a unique setting for student accommodation, learning and community. Located on a remote site near Mount Yarrahapinni, the campus includes eight accommodation cabins for students, a dining hall, reception and health facilities, carefully arranged within 200 hectares of rural landscape.
Northrop provided structural engineering services for the new campus buildings, working closely with Lipman and Custom Steel to deliver a structural solution that complemented the architectural vision and responded to the challenges of a remote site.
PartnershipThis project brought together long-standing relationships between Northrop, Newington College, Lipman and Custom Steel. Our established relationships helped create a collaborative approach from design through to construction, with the team working together to solve challenges early and keep the project moving.
The project also required the structural design to be completed as a declared design under the NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act. This placed a strong focus on coordination, documentation and accountability throughout the design process.
Delivery
The architectural vision called for buildings with the warmth and character of timber construction, while minimising the use of concrete. Northrop developed a structural solution that made extensive use of steel while allowing timber elements to remain a defining feature of the buildings.
For the foundations, we introduced micropiles as a practical solution for the remote site. The system minimised the need for heavy construction equipment, with installation able to be completed using a jackhammer and personnel.
We also designed feature timber trusses in areas where the structure is exposed, ensuring the structural elements became part of the architectural expression rather than being concealed. Detailed elements, including custom gutter brackets, were also designed to support the architectural vision and maintain consistency across the buildings.
The project incorporated compressed straw internal linings, supporting both the fire performance requirements and the project’s focus on reducing environmental impact.
Impact
The result is a lightweight, carefully considered structural solution that supports the campus’s distinctive timber character while responding to the practical challenges of building on a remote site.
By reducing reliance on concrete, using micropile foundations and integrating structural elements into the architectural design, the project demonstrates how thoughtful engineering can contribute to both constructability and design intent.
Most importantly, the collaborative approach between Northrop, Newington College, Lipman and Custom Steel helped turn a challenging remote-site project into a cohesive campus environment that supports student life, learning and connection to the surrounding landscape.
Awards
- 2026 Learning Environments Australasia LEAD Awards — Winner, New Campus with Educational Facilities
- 2026 Australian Institute of Architects NSW Architecture Awards — Award for Sustainable Architecture
Key People
Related Projects
Macquarie University Central Courtyard Redevelopment
- Acoustics
- Electrical Engineering
- Hydraulic & Fire
- Mechanical Engineering
- Sustainability
Everleigh AFL Clubhouse
- Civil
- Structural
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School Sports Precinct
- Civil
- Structural
Bonython Tower
- Civil
- Structural