Olderfleet Building, VIC

A cornerstone of Melbourne's architectural heritage, the Olderfleet office building at 477 Collins Street has undergone a remarkable transformation. Originally constructed as three separate buildings in the 1800s, Olderfleet has served diverse purposes and witnessed numerous occupants throughout its history. Reflecting the city's evolution, Mirvac's revitalization project respectfully preserves Olderfleet's Romanesque and Gothic Victorian architectural traditions while ushering it into the future as a contemporary workplace.

This prestigious Melbourne landmark has garnered numerous accolades, including a 2021 Good Design Award for Architectural Interior for the anchor tenant, Deloitte Digital. Furthermore, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) bestowed two awards upon Olderfleet in 2022: Best Tall Building (100-199 meters) and Best Tall Office Building.

Studco® played a pivotal role throughout the redevelopment, providing comprehensive services encompassing engineering design, logistical support, on-site testing, and installation assessments. The seamless collaboration between Studco and Arc Plastering facilitated the realization of the modern interior at 477 Collins Street, ultimately transforming Olderfleet into a building that seamlessly blends Melbourne's rich history with modern functionality.

The moniker "Marvellous Melbourne," dating back to the 1880s, remains fitting for Collins Street. Therefore, preserving a facet of this rich tapestry through the Olderfleet building was of paramount importance.

As a heritage-listed site, the engineering and design phase presented a unique challenge: integrating with the existing structure. Since Olderfleet's initial construction (1880s) and subsequent renovation (1980s), Australian construction methods and quality have undergone significant advancements. Therefore, the Studco technical team meticulously evaluated the impact of the intervening 30 years on the existing structure to account for any potential irregularities.

Embracing Urban Culture:

While preserving the building's historical significance was crucial, fostering a space that embraces modern Melbourne's vibrant urban culture was equally important. The Deloitte offices house Australia's largest collection of art, featuring works by local talents. Accommodating this extensive collection presented a key challenge.

Engineering designs were meticulously crafted to ensure the walls within the fit-out could serve as a canvas for these expansive art pieces. This included incorporating support and bracing with Studco StrongArm® brackets and additional noggings. The design approach allowed the walls to withstand the significant weight requirements necessary for showcasing Melbourne's urban artistic vision.

Envisioning the Modern Workplace:

The Deloitte Digital fit-out boasts an innovative workplace environment designed to foster teamwork and collaboration. A combination of free-flowing open plan areas and designated breakout spaces caters to the diverse workstyles within the organization. Scattered throughout the open spaces are displays, custom-built workstations and screens, communal benches, whiteboard holders, and space dividers.

To accommodate the diverse functionalities within these spaces, the Studco technical team developed a versatile wall design system that could adapt to the specific needs of each area. Breakout rooms featuring large screens necessitated walls capable of supporting their weight. Additional bracing within the ceiling system, directly attached to the structure, further reinforced these areas.

A "Top-Down" Approach:

A captivating element of the project was the construction methodology for the walls. Unlike conventional construction methods that begin from the floor upwards, the initial portion of the walls required construction from the concrete soffit downwards. Naturally, this presented unique challenges during the construction phase. Temporary support braces were installed during the ceiling installation to facilitate this downward construction method. Once the glass and aluminum partitions were completed beneath the bulkheads, these temporary supports were then removed.

The Studco StrongArm bracket emerged as the ideal solution for this unique installation. It was directly fixed to both the concrete structure and the hung wall, ensuring stability throughout the lower wall installation process. Upon completion of the entire wall, these brackets remained in place, concealed within the wall cavity without compromising its acoustic properties.

Seismic Resilience:

As with virtually all new buildings, the Olderfleet project underwent a comprehensive seismic design assessment. Studco played a crucial role in providing seismic designs for the ceilings and bulkheads across the 13-level Deloitte fit-out. This included incorporating seismic connections throughout the ceiling system, along with seismic bracing strategically positioned to connect back to the main structure. Through these designs, the Studco technical team successfully addressed the seismic considerations for 477 Collins Street, leveraging their expertise to achieve cost-effective solutions.

Uninterrupted Meetings:

Creating dedicated breakout and meeting spaces was essential for the Deloitte fit-out. Given the proximity of these spaces, minimizing airborne sound transmission was a key priority. This would ensure that confidential conversations could