Le Meridien | Northrop

Direct Client Peddle Thorpe
Builder LU Simon builders
Architect Peddle Thorpe
Sectors
- Hotels and Hospitality
Services
- Civil
- Structural
Value $70m
Year 2022
Location
- Melbourne

Last Project
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Partnership

Northrop partnered with LU Simon builders and Peddle Thorpe Architects to provide structural and civil services for the Le Meridien Hotel in Melbourne, with completion in 2022. Northrop commenced on the project after the tendering phase, working closely with LU Simon to provide tailored structural solutions to overcome the difficult site conditions and program requirements.

Project

Le Meridien hotel is a 16 storey, 5-star hotel consisting of 235 rooms, café, bar, conference rooms, pool and fitness centre located on Bourke St in the Melbourne CBD, with 4 stories below Bourke Street and directly adjacent the Princess Theatre.
A key challenge of the project was to maintain the existing Bourke Street masonry façade above level one whilst allowing the ground floor entry to be opened up significantly as the hotel foyer, requiring support to existing façade that was constructed in 1912 as part of the original Metro Theatre.

Delivery

Northrop were engaged on a Design and Construct basis which allowed the exploration of cost-effective solutions with the builder to reduce costs and program time as effectively and safely as possible.
Northrop focussed primarily on simplifying the structure to the lift and stair cores and limiting transfers generally throughout the building. There was a strong focus on collaborating with the temporary works engineers for the temporary and permanent support of the Bourke Street façade and the piling works directly adjacent the Princess Theatre.

Impact

One of the key challenges was incorporating the existing façade above level one. Together with the builder, Northrop devised a solution that provided robust structural support while preserving the historical aesthetics of the Bourke St façade. The existing façade was approximately 800mm thick and 14m in height and constructed of heritage brickwork with soft mortar joints. Northrop worked on a bespoke solution that was safe, effective and buildable.

This project exemplifies Northrop’s commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable building solutions that enrich Melbourne’s urban landscape.

“Mixing the old with the new has created a truly iconic hotel in the heart of Melbourne CBD. It was so important to find engineering solutions that allowed for the façade to be kept, whilst ensuring the current day building standards were achieved. We were thrilled to see L.U. Simon Builders being named Master Builder of the Year for the meticulous work on Le Meridien and the role we played in the structural and civil engineering,” said James Sutherland, Northrop Melbourne Local Office Leader.