Fortitude Valley State Secondary College is the first school to open in inner-city Brisbane in over 50 years. This innovative educational facility embraces its urban surroundings and utilises the subtropical climate, fostering a vibrant learning environment that engages with the local community.

Designed by Cox Architecture, with Thomson Adsett delivering the final architectural design, the school features a blend of traditional classrooms and contemporary collaborative and workshop spaces spread across multiple levels. BG&E provided comprehensive civil, structural, flood, and traffic engineering services. The early works, valued at $81 million, facilitated the integration of flood modelling with civil and structural designs, ensuring a seamless approach to the project. Constructed by Hutchinson Builders, the project was completed ahead of the initial schedule, showcasing exceptional project management and execution.

The sports centre, part of a broader $98.7 million redevelopment, further extends the innovative design. BG&E provided construction engineering services, including managing the structural design for a 23 metre concrete floor spans over twin basketball courts. The proximity to a rail line required careful consideration of rail impact loads and partial collapse criteria, with the entire structure built using precast elements.

BG&E’s scope also covered the erection sequencing of precast components to assess their strength at various stages and the design of all temporary works to ensure stability. The team produced 4D-rendered animations, aiding communication of the construction sequence to on-site trades.