Sydney Fish Market

Direct Client Multiplex, Rubner
Architect 3XN/BVN
Sectirs
- Infrastructure & Bridges
Services
- Structural
Value $836M
Location Pyrmont, NSW

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A striking new landmark on Sydney’s Blackwattle Bay is taking shape – the revitalised Sydney Fish Market. Designed by 3XN/BVN and delivered by Multiplex, the project is more than just a market; it’s a civic destination that celebrates connection to place, culture and community.

Partnership

Northrop was engaged post-tender by international timber specialist Rubner to provide structural engineering design for the market’s most distinctive feature: the sweeping timber roof.

Timber was selected for its strength, lightweight properties, and environmental performance, but designing and delivering the roof presented unique logistical and structural challenges. To ease road traffic congestion and reduce on-site disruption, the 800 individual wooden segments, some weighing up to 20 tonnes, were delivered by barge and assembled on site. This wave-like canopy stretches nearly 200 metres, sheltering the open-air market while establishing a distinct silhouette on the Pyrmont foreshore.

Project

The curving form of the roof, shaped by both aesthetic intent and aerodynamic demands, required intricate engineering. Our structural team joined a tight-knit collaboration of design and delivery partners to resolve geometry, connection detailing and buildability.

With no comprehensive Australian standards for large-scale timber structures, Northrop developed a performance-based solution aligned with European codes, providing the Certifier with a compliant and robust pathway. Our engineers even travelled to Europe to work directly with Theca’s fabrication team, ensuring that every element could be manufactured, transported and installed to meet the architectural vision and tight tolerances.

A key focus was the complex overlapping connections within the timber canopy. These intersections demanded careful attention to structural integrity and visual continuity. Our team validated base-building assumptions throughout the process and ensured that the timber roof design met both architectural ambition and long-term durability.

Impact

Through close collaboration, technical precision, and adaptive thinking, our Structural team helped shape an iconic public space that will serve the expected 6 million annual visitors and the future of Sydney’s harbour waterfront.