Condor Tower, a mixed-use 28 storey building at 22 St Georges Terrace, Perth exemplifies leading engineering innovation by adding 18 storeys on top of a 10 storey abandoned building.
Condor Tower pushes the boundaries of building adaptability and sustainable design by demonstrating how obsolete structures with remaining design life and inherent strength can be recycled and transformed.
Reusing the existing concrete structure reduced concrete consumption and building wastage to landfill.
Unique in Australia and possibly worldwide, a building extension of this magnitude required unique engineering solutions and resulted in four years of research at the University of Western Australia.
John
Added by John 7:30pm 11/03/11
The Engineering behind this project is fantastic. Unfortunately, what the public sees is a car park entered via a dingy laneway entering something that reminds me of a dungeon in Harlem. My wife commented that she would be afraid to use this area at night. If you are lucky enough to be able to enter the building from the car park without tripping and injuring yourself you do enter an impressive foyer which does remind one of a New York Apartment design. Stainless Steel fittings on railings and glass balustrade around the Common Pool Area are already rusting as are most of the apartment balcony railings. I was certainly surprised (and somewhat amused) to learn that this building generated so much Engineering support. Unfortunately the public in general don't see or understand the complex engineering achievement that has been reached. In fact I was personally asked if we engineers even knew what we were doing. In my opinion this example has done the engineering profession more harm than good.
Hurol
Added by Hurol 6:09pm 2/03/11
Amazing project - well done!