BG&E provided structural engineering services for the billion dollar expansion of Castle Towers shopping centre and the surrounding precinct, in Sydney.

The East Village Office is a proposed 12-storey A-grade commercial building within the Castle Towers Zone 3 Redevelopment at the Castle Towers Shopping Centre. The project aim was to produce a lighterweight, lower embodied carbon exposed timber structure – a standout commercial building in the Hills District.

The project includes:

• 12-storey hybrid timber office structure over four levels of concrete podium/basement structure.
• The office tower comprises composite timber-concrete floors supported on Deltabeams (Peikko).
• The internal columns and bracing are glulaminated timber.
• The building is supported using a concrete core.
• The internal timber is proposed to be European spruce CLT and GLT.
• Hardwood Australian timber is proposed for the external bracing.
• The podium structure interfaces with the existing and proposed retail structure and a new hotel. This requires design coordination with three different architectural teams.
• The eastern end of the commercial structure is supported over an existing metro tunnel.
• The project is currently in the design phase and has been issued for tender.

BG&E Scope

Structural design from concept phase. Providing a structural solution for the office floors that is lighter weight and allows a reduction in embodied carbon, compared to a ‘business as usual’ concrete frame structure.

Civil design from concept.

Key Technical Achievements & Innovations

To achieve a timber solution at greater spans to suit an open office floor plan, a hybrid timber floor structure has been proposed. This system is designed to remain exposed for a 90 FRL and provides a flat soffit for simple service reticulation and floor-to-floor savings. Features include:

• Timber concrete composite floor – 120 thick reinforced concrete + 240 thick CLT.
• Deltabeams – concrete-filled steel box sections, a proprietary system by Peikko.
• Lower embodied carbon structure.
• Lower weight structure over the existing metro tunnel.