In Australia, Powerhouse Parramatta, currently being constructed by Lendlease on behalf of the NSW Government, will be the largest museum in NSW at 30,000 square metres, with more than 18,000 square metres of exhibition and public space including Australia’s largest column-free exhibition space. Designed so that its exterior superstructure is a celebrated architectural feature, the museum’s two buildings feature three types of steel lattices as an exoskeleton.
With the structural support for the trusses that achieve the column-free exhibition space sitting on the exterior of the building, the challenge from a construction point of view was how to install the heavy steel trusses and deliver the project to the architectural team’s vision. Lendlease engaged heavy lift tower crane specialists Marr Contracting during the planning stage.
Marr’s solution was to install three Heavy Lift Luffing (HLL) tower cranes including a 330-tonne capacity Favelle Favco M2480D, a 150-tonne capacity M1280D and a 96-tonne capacity M860D. By allowing bigger, heavier modularised sections of the exoskeleton including steel trusses weighing up to 120 tonnes to be installed in a single lift, the cranage methodology will reduce the number of lifts required and decongest the site.
According to Marr’s Design & Engineering Manager, Andrew Coffin, “From an engineering standpoint this project is a significant challenge due to its complexity. The key was understanding the desired approach to building the project and designing the crane solution around that idea.”
“It took vision, innovation and collaboration to design a cranage solution that will deliver this amazing project,” said Marr’s managing director, Simon Marr. “It’s a great example of achieving a better solution for the project team by asking ‘how do you want to build the project?’ and designing the cranage solution around a construction methodology instead of construction being driven by the limitations of the crane as we are constantly seeing in other parts of the world.”
With sustainability sitting at the heart of the building and its construction, Powerhouse Parramatta will be Parramatta’s first public 6 Star Green Star Building. It is also one of the first projects in Australia to use 100% renewable diesel (HVO100) in Marr’s cranes working on the project.
Powerhouse Parramatta is expected to be completed in late 2024.
