Everleigh AFL Clubhouse
- Civil
- Structural
“When Northrop was engaged to commence redesign on Memorial Walk it was an idea not a project, as the original design was overbudget and unappealing. We realised the design was fighting with the site, as the nature of the cliff face location and the mine workings underneath called for a slender, sculptural bridge, rather than a typical heavy infrastructure concrete solution that had been designed. We partnered with the project team to drive the sculptural solution for the bridge, which achieved both the team's vision for the site and unlocked the project from a budget perspective. I’m proud of both the piece of infrastructure we delivered for the community of Newcastle and the tribute the project represents to the spirit of the Anzac’s and the brave soldiers that fought in WWI.”
Mark Sturgess, Northrop Principal and Managing Partner
Partnership
Northrop partnered with EJE Architecture on this project and through a coordinated design approach we have developed an exceptionally scenic section of coastal walkway that is highly used and popular with the public.
Project
One of the most spectacular coastal walks in Australia, the Newcastle Memorial pedestrian bridge is constructed over a cliff top overlooking Merewether and Bar Beach with historical references to commemorate World War I (WWI).
The walk was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC’s landing at Gallipoli and the commencement of making steel in Newcastle. The structural design was developed in conjunction with EJE Architecture to reflect the double helix of human DNA to identify fallen soldiers on the battlefield of Europe.
The project consisted of structural design of a suspended pedestrian bridge for the Newcastle Memorial Walk, including steel trusses, precast columns and inground works. We also provided construction supervision and certification for the entire project, bridge and CFT (Composite Fibre Technology) boardwalk components.
Delivery
Northrop worked to design a high-end structural product within a constrained budget. The structural design had to visually express the project theme with the top bridge adorned with steel silhouettes of soldiers as well as the names of almost 11,000 Hunter Valley men and women who enlisted to during World War I. Durability of the infrastructure was paramount given its close proximity to the aggressive marine environment and high winds.
Smart engineering and our ability to minimise materials whilst maximising visual impact allowed us to provide a bridge structure that achieved the design ambition of the project team whilst balancing the tight budget. The project was delivered within budget with no structural variations.
Impact
The finished product is a 160 metre cliff top bridge that connects the memorial walk to Bathers Way, a six-kilometre coastal walk from Nobbys Beach down to Merewether Beach. Memorial walk has become a popular landmark and provides a unique drawcard for locals and visitors to the area.
Imagery
Bryce Thomas
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