Residential, Student Accommodation & Build-to-Rent

At Northrop, our multi-disciplinary engineering team offers customised design solutions unlocking the full potential of each residential, build-to-rent and student accommodation development, with lasting benefits for local Australian communities.

We’ve delivered award-winning residential projects along Australia’s eastern seaboard, and we specialise in a diverse range of building typologies—from multi-storey high-rise towers to luxury homes—and work on projects with varying development strategies, including both built-to-sell and build-to-rent approaches.

How do we add value? Partnering with private developers, institutional investors, community housing providers, Build-to-Rent (BTR) operators, and families realising their dream homes, we bring over 40 years’ experience to the table to quickly accelerate feasibility and approvals, and develop competitive and buildable designs.

Residential work has always been one of our biggest sectors, currently making up about 25-30% of our workload. We love the architectural challenges that come with high-end developments, the efficiencies we can help deliver for social housing and the best-for-life-cycle approach we can take to build-to-hold assets.

With over 25 NSW design practitioners, our team has a strong track record in delivering Design and Building Practitioners Act residential buildings and a comprehensive understanding of SEPP Sustainability Design Regulations.

Whether building near inner-city rail tunnels or major roads, overcoming site constraints, navigating complex regulatory frameworks, or collaborating with multiple stakeholders, we consistently provide practical and innovative engineering solutions that meet or exceed architectural vision and owner or developer requirements.

Our team brings extensive experience in multi-unit residential projects, providing a comprehensive range of services from civil and structural design to integrated building services and sustainability consulting. We offer considered, coordinated solutions that strike a balance between managing upfront costs and achieving long-term operational savings, ensuring your development is both financially viable and future-proof.

We pride ourselves on our collaborative design process, working closely with developers to create integrated teams that navigate local regulations and overcome construction challenges. Our builder’s mindset ensures that our designs incorporate the latest methodologies and value management strategies, allowing us to deliver projects on time and within budget.

We offer expert advisory and modelling services to support our clients in achieving their sustainability objectives, such as Green Star and NABERS. Our use of parametric modelling optimises designs for maximum environmental performance, ensuring projects not only meet ecological standards but also deliver enduring value and resilience for years to come.

From initial due diligence to final project completion and handover, we provide a full spectrum of engineering services. Our multi-disciplinary team helps clients identify site constraints early, streamlining the development process and ensuring smooth project delivery at every stage. We’re in it with you for the long haul and can’t wait to see our projects become homes.

We understand that your project needs to be more than just buildable and compliant—it needs to be efficient, sustainable, and forward-thinking. By partnering with us, you gain a trusted team committed to delivering adaptable engineering solutions that meet your budget while providing long-term benefits to both your investment and the local community.

• Acoustics
• Building Services (Mechanical, Electrical, Hydraulic & Fire)
• Civil Engineering
• Facades
• Remedial & Diagnostics
• Structural Engineering
• Sustainability
• Water & Environment

• Multi-storey development – build-to-sell residential, Social and affordable housing, student accommodation, build-to-rent.
• Low rise residential projects and luxury homes
• Integrated building services design
• Constrained sites with deep basement
• Live building environments adjacent to transport corridors
• Adaptive re-use offering sustainable project outcomes
• Infrastructure due diligence for land acquisition
• Structural appraisal of existing housing stock
• Acoustic noise mitigation strategies
• Evaluation of Flooding risk
• Façade performance assessments