Hydraulic | CORE Consulting Engineers

Residential/Strata, Façade, Hydraulic, Remedial, Structural

67 Ocean St, Woollahra, NSW

CORE was engaged to conduct a site inspection and condition assessment of 36 units and balconies at 67 Ocean St, Woollahra – a 1967, 7-storey, brick-facade residential/strata building.

Inspection findings…

During the inspection process, the CORE team identified numerous issues ranging from:

Non-compliant balustrades
Defective balcony soffits with non-functioning drip-grooves
Inadequate primary drainage systems causing extensive water ponding and significantly reducing the service life of waterproofing membrane
Blocked and non-compliant secondary overflow outlets
Leaking downpipes
Concrete spalling
Drummy balcony and skirting tiles
Balcony doors and windows installed with inadequate separation between external and internal areas causing water ingress

Detailed reporting to inform decisions…

Upon completion of the inspection, a detailed balcony condition assessment report was submitted to the Owners Corporation (OC) along with recommendations on how to resolve root causes, address internal consequential damage and achieve a long-term solution for the owners.

CORE’s engagement continued as per the OC’s request for the delivery of technical specifications and approval to proceed with tendering the works inclusive of a:

Balustrade upgrade
Stormwater drainage system upgrade
Balcony waterproofing works
Balcony sliding door upgrade
Concrete spalling repairs

In relation to the balustrade upgrade, CORE provided several options for the OC’s consideration – taking both the building’s aesthetic and project budget into account. Indicative design mock-ups were issued, enabling owners to
envision the end result for each option and make a more informed decision on how to proceed.

Overall, the project required the expertise of CORE’s Remedial, Facade, Structures and Hydraulic divisions.

Preparing for the construction stage…

The next stage saw CORE tender out the works to 3 remedial contractors within our preferred partner portfolio.

It is important to note that CORE’s Contractor portfolio has been established and vetted over many years – developing and maintaining relationships with the most reputable and reliable Contractor groups in the industry.

Prior to the works contract being signed, CORE team met with all owners and the OC to provide a detailed brief of the issues, upcoming works and to provide an opportunity to answer any questions they had.

All eyes on safety and communication…

CORE believes that both safety and communication play a critical role throughout our projects and are crucial to achieving a successful outcome.

Prior to any works being formalised or contracts signed, the CORE team met with all owners to provide a detailed brief of the building issues at hand along with upcoming works.

Upon commencement of works, CORE delivered weekly progress updates and ensured remediation was carried out with minimal disturbance to residents.

The project was compliant with the new DBPA requirements and Certificates of Practical Completion were delivered. The project was completed in October 2022.

Investa: NSW, VIC, QLD Portfolio

Our Partnership

CORE has delivered facade auditing and fire consulting services for Investa’s NSW, VIC and QLD portfolio of 21 assets for more than 10 years.

As Investa’s base building consultants, our team has gained an intimate knowledge of each building as well as a strong understanding of the operational and compliance excellence expected of Investa’s suppliers, along with their key drivers of success.

Achieving 100% compliance with inspection and legislative requirements, codes and authorities.

Working in close collaboration with the Investa management team, and in accordance with all state requirements, CORE has successfully delivered a national program of facade inspections and management of identified defects achieving and maintaining 100% compliance with Investa’s inspection requirements.

Our development and management of Investa’s fire compliance and certification process has seen CORE create a bespoke model that is well above industry standard and is reflective of the unique service requirements of Investa. This model continues to strengthen and evolve as we aim to deliver an efficient, sustainable and customised fire consulting services for Investa for years to come.

The people behind the buildings…

Paramount to our partnership’s success is CORE and Investa’s mutual commitment to effective communication and nurturing relationships throughout all streams of engagement.

With dedicated Site Managers and State Managers assigned to each location, CORE facilitates a personal, consistent and streamlined communication experience for both parties an approach that is supported by our operational processes and systems.

We understand the importance and value of clear, accountable communication flows and believe this to be one of the most critical components of what we deliver.

Experts in existing buildings.

Heavily integrated with other major disciplines, facades and building services play a significant role in determining the overall value, performance, safety and sustainability of a building.

CORE’s multi-disciplinary teamwork means we differentiate in facade excellence – delivering continuous improvement and setting new benchmarks in the industry.

More than 70% of CORE’s business is in existing buildings.

Our team are experts in this field – acutely aware of the challenges and constraints that arise throughout the building lifecycle and equipped to provide solutions that minimise tenant disruption whilst offering the safest, most efficient
and cost-effective outcomes.

It is our choice to only work with select clients to manage their premium building portfolios via our bespoke methodology and boutique client service. This approach enables us to deliver and uphold a high-quality, turn-key solution that
encompasses both technical engineering and project management practises seeing us take on all administrative, technical and cost analysis responsibilities so that our clients can focus on servicing their tenants.

Being at the forefront of the industry for compliance management – we’re always keeping commercial and regulatory requirements top of mind and working closely with clients to navigate and deliver in alignment with the ever-changing
compliance environment.

Commercial Office, Government, Hospitality, Refurbishment/Fitout, Transport, Electrical, Façade, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Remedial, Structural

City of Sydney, NSW Portfolio

Our Partnership

Since 2019, CORE has been proudly appointed by MBM as City of Sydney’s partner of choice for the delivery of multi- disciplinary, technical engineering services across a portfolio of 125 assets.

An array of prominent, flagship locations that shape the city of Sydney…

Town Halls
Aquatic Centres
Community Centres
Childcare Centres
Libraries
Leisure & Entertainment Venues
Commercial Offices
Industrial Warehouses

Experts in existing buildings, delivering turn-key, multi disciplinary engineering solutions.

Our dedicated CORE team are responsible for the provision of:

Technical due diligence investigations and reporting
Facade inspection services
Condition reporting
Feasibility studies
Design and specification
Construction services
Building safety upgrades
Fitouts / refurbishment projects
CAPEX projects
Certification

Leading with a ‘People-First’ approach and an unwavering commitment to operational excellence.

Operating as a true extension to the City of Sydney team, CORE places a strong focus on the simultaneous delivery of high-quality engineering and exceptional customer service.

Working with a diverse group of stakeholders – from Facilities Managers, engineering and project management divisions, the sustainability team, through to tenants themselves, we pride ourselves on delivering a customised approach
and handling each interaction with care.

Communication, flexibility, a high level of responsiveness and the commitment to addressing priority items with urgency are integral to our approach.

Managing the unique, ever-changing requirements of each asset, City of Sydney’s diverse portfolio has required an intimate understanding of existing buildings and their lifecycle, along with experience in navigating the sensitivities
and intricacies of government requirements.

In addition to governance and regulatory obligations, historic value, cost and sustainability requirements, risk management and impact on end-users are always carefully considered to ensure the delivery of exceptional engineering
solutions and long-term value for our client.

As we continue our work with City of Sydney, we look forward to increasing our knowledge of their buildings and seeing them flourish within the community.

Aged Care/Health, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural

Next Practice Medical Centre, 20 Bridge St, Sydney, NSW

Next Practice Health aims to deliver a new level of healthcare, offering the very best in medical services and facilities in a modern, reimagined setting that has patient experience at the very heart of its vision.

With a mission to continually innovate the healthcare journey and extend services into Sydney’s CBD, Next Practice prepared to transform a prior office space at 20 Bridge St into what is now best described as a ‘clinic of the future’.

Timeline

8 weeks – design
10 months – construction

Engineering ‘clinics of the future’

Having strong experience in the Healthcare sector and in delivering high-end solutions for complex, live environments, CORE was engaged to deliver a 360 multi-disciplinary fitout solution that included the following engineering consultancy services:

Mechanical
Electrical
Hydraulic
Fire
Structural

Working closely with Next Practice to bring the client’s vision to reality, the CORE team engineered a meticulous combination of design and functionality for the space. Beyond a standard fitout, the project required several points of coordination and intrusion with base building services. Electrical requirements were unique for lighting and equipment specification for mechanical services was critical to achieving the client’s clinical ‘consulting pod’ concept.

Paramount to the project’s success, our team’s strong level of coordination, exceptional attention to detail and focus on collaboration and communication with key stakeholders has positioned CORE as the preferred partner for Next Practice Health’s national portfolio of clinics.

Commercial Office, Heritage, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Structural

139 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo, NSW

Located in the beautiful suburb of Woolloomooloo, this commanding late-Victorian terrace was set to undergo a complete renovation and rear extension, transforming it into a unique commercial office space.

Timeline

20 months – design through to completed works.

Blending old with new to achieve heritage

Engaged by M.A.D Bespoke Property Group, CORE delivered a 360-degree, multi-disciplinary structural and building services solution for 139 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo.

One of the most impressive features of the project was the design of a custom, inter-tenancy steel staircase showcasing an industrial, warehouse-style finish, serving as a unique focal point within the overall design.

Structural framing for the building’s flooring and rear facade was also designed in-house and utilised as much of the existing structure and framing as possible, resulting in a cost-effective solution that preserved the building’s heritage, achieved architectural intent and delivered the functionality and aesthetic of modern day.

The project spanned 5 open plan levels with CORE’s fire, electrical and hydraulic teams engaged to provide all-encompassing building services design in support of the building’s renovation and extension.

Experts in existing buildings with a passion for heritage, CORE are proud to have completed another successful transformation.

Aged Care/Health, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical

Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment, NSW

CORE was engaged by Project Coordination to support the delivery of NSW Health Infrastructure’s $10+ million upgrade to Griffith Hospital, NSW.

The project involved the construction of a new Ambulatory Care Hub as well as extensions to the hospital’s Critical Care and Inpatient Units to increase patient capacity, enhance service functionality and welcome the addition of new support areas.
The plan also required improvements to existing car park facilities along with other external works.

Timeline

6 months – design
12 months – construction

Our Approach: achieving a detailed understanding of the client’s needs

When working within the Health sector, dedicating the necessary time to listen and develop a strong understanding of a client’s needs is more critical than ever.

From the initial consultation stage, the CORE team ensured that the right amount of time was spent upfront in order to deliver a better long-term result.

As always, strong, open lines of communication played a key role in determining project success and saw CORE working alongside on-site teams as well as the hospital board to ensure proposed solutions aligned with the hospital’s operational requirements.

The Outcome: delivering optimal design, reducing time and costs

The redevelopment of Griffith Base Hospital was a multi-layered, complex project with a clear objective to significantly enhance the hospital precinct, its processes and operations.

CORE’s detailed and thorough approach to the project’s design phase was invaluable.

Our 3D modelling capabilities enabled key stakeholders to seamlessly visualise the proposed solutions and facilitated critical conversations during the early stages of the project – saving significant amounts of time and money during the construction phase.

The 12-month construction stage was delivered to scope, on time and to budget with the hospital remaining fully operational throughout the period.

Commercial Office, Refurbishment/Fitout, Electrical, Fire Engineering & Fire Protection, Hydraulic, Mechanical, Structural

9 Hunter St, Sydney, NSW

Located in the heart of the Sydney CBD, 9 Hunter St is a 17 level office tower with a multi-tenant profile situated above one of the city’s busiest food courts.

CORE was engaged in 2019 as part of plans to undertake a major refurbishment of the lobby area that would include upgrades and alterations to the commercial entry to the existing building, inclusion of a new accessible ramp, fire safety upgrades, shopfront and awning along with bespoke finishes to the foyer and lift lobby interiors such as the undulating ceiling, double-height glass façade and portal lighting.

The objective of the works was to enhance the environment and areas available for lease with cutting edge design, transforming the ground level of one of Sydney’s best situated office towers.

Timeline

6 months – design
12 months – construction

CORE – a partner of choice

As a multi-disciplinary consultancy, continuously adding value throughout the building’s lifecycle, CORE were well equipped to deliver an end-to-end project solution.

Over an 18-month period, our team in conjunction with our project partners delivered all major structural and building services works achieving significant aesthetic, functional, accessibility and safety improvements for tenants and staff alike.

Setting the building apart, one of the most impressive design features is the change from a single-height to a double-height facade which required the complete relocation of major services. Complemented by architecturally designed, undulating dowel with dowel and entry portal lighting designed by CORE, the lobby is the perfect example of design and functionality aligned.

Shoalhaven Hospital Multi-Deck Carpark, NSW

In a major milestone for communities of Shoalhaven and surrounds, Health Infrastructure recognised the need for additional car parking spaces to accommodate the growing use of Shoalhaven Hospital -improving connectivity and allowing easier and more convenient access for patients and visitors.

Timeline

12 months – design
12 months – construction

The Challenge: finding the best solution

Project Coordination engaged CORE for the demolition and development of the new multi-deck car park and security room.
The design stage was critical to ensuring the new car park capacity was optimised and would visually integrate and align with the hospital’s masterplan. Complex, existing issues on site needed to be overcome which saw CORE working closely with builders and clients to alleviate concerns safely and with timely and cost efficient solutions.

CORE’s key areas of focus were: capacity requirements, coordination with the existing helipad and impacts on helicopter approach to hospital, aesthetics, water diversion/flow path management, lighting and hydraulics.

The project was constructed within the challenging environment of an operating hospital and adjacent to a cancer care unit. Close collaboration and communication with stakeholders was required to ensure minimal interruption to clinical services and hospital access; as well as a focus on infection control due to the close proximity of immunocompromised patients.

The Outcome: car park capacity increased by over 50%

Construction on the NSW Government’s $11.8 million multi-storey car park was completed in June 2020.

The new five split-level car park provides patients and visitors with more than 300 new spaces, increasing the hospital’s overall parking capacity to over 550 spaces and features a stunning facade inspired by the colours and landscape art of Shoalhaven luminary Arthur Boyd.

Notably, the project was awarded Winner of the NSW MBA Building in Excellence Awards in the ‘Best Public Building $10-15M’ category.