Climate Change Adaptation Project
- Sustainability
Partnership
At Northrop, we’re proud of our strong partnership with Lahznimmo Architects. Working together on various projects, we’ve combined our engineering expertise with their innovative design approach to create some truly remarkable spaces. From educational buildings to cultural and public facilities, our collaboration ensures that each project is both functional and visually stunning.
We love teaming up with Lahznimmo because it allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible and deliver high-quality results for our clients. It’s a partnership built on mutual respect and a shared passion for excellence.
Project
The Powerhouse Museum Discovery Centre at Castle Hill is an exciting new two-story facility designed to house over 500,000 fascinating objects. With a $30 million investment, the project aimed to expand storage, enhance public access, and support conservation and research. Some of the challenges included blending the new building with existing structures, sticking to the budget, and getting all the necessary approvals. Now, the centre offers flexible spaces for education, public programs, and conservation, making it a fantastic resource for the community and various user groups.
Delivery
At Northrop, we delivered a state-of-the-art, two-storey facility for the Powerhouse Museum Discovery Centre at Castle Hill. Our team tackled several technical challenges, including maintaining strict environmental controls to protect the collection. We collaborated closely with Lahznimmo Architects and other specialists, such as concrete specialists to ensure the project’s success.
Throughout the project, we provided regular updates and worked collaboratively with all stakeholders on site. This approach helped us meet the client’s key goals of expanding storage capacity, enhancing public access, and supporting conservation and research, ultimately creating a valuable resource for the community.
Impact
The Powerhouse Museum Discovery Centre at Castle Hill has had a significant positive impact on the client, community, and environment. For the client, the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, the new state-of-the-art facility meets their goals of expanding storage, enhancing public access, and supporting conservation and research. This space allows them to better protect and showcase their extensive collection, benefiting NSW’s cultural heritage.
For the community, the expanded centre offers more engagement opportunities through education programs, exhibitions, and workshops, becoming a cultural hub in Sydney’s northwest. Environmentally, the project includes sustainability initiatives like energy-efficient systems, LED lighting, rainwater reuse, and solar power, reducing the building’s environmental footprint.
Our team at Northrop played a crucial role in overcoming technical challenges.
“Powerhouse Parramatta is one of the largest structural engineering and architecturally complex projects under way in Australia and an impressive example of design excellence.”
Rod Pratt, Principal, Structural Engineer, Northrop Consulting Engineers
Imagery
Rory Gardiner, courtesy of Powerhouse
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