The name, Boola Bardip, gives significance to the people, history and identity of the local First Nations people and their deep connection to country. Boola Bardip means many stories in Whadjuk Nyoongar – the country on which the museum sits.

The WA Museum Boola Bardip formally open on 21 November 2020 and is located in the Perth Cultural Centre, the State’s premier cultural hub which houses its scientific and cultural collections.

BG&E provided structural and civil engineering services for this important building where stories are shared. The dramatic design links contemporary architecture with the historic and heritage listed buildings, creating a visual landmark for the State. Column free gallery spaces are elevated 15 metres above ground over clear external pedestrian areas of 40 metres x 50 metres, and over the top of an existing heritage building, requiring long span and cantilevering structure.

Gallery floors designed for total imposed loads of 14.5 kilopascals and 120 kilonewtons concentrated loads with stringent deflection and vibration acceptance criteria. Gallery floors comprise composite steel floors spanning 20 metres on two, two-storey high fabricated structural steel trusses. These floors are supported by fabricated steel trusses, located within wall lines over storey heights and vary in depth, of between seven metres and 15 metres.

The trusses span up to 45 metres with a 17-metre cantilever required where the new building is located over the existing heritage building.

To minimise overall steel tonnage, high strength 450-grade steel plate was used in the trusses. Columns are a mix of reinforced concrete and composite steel/concrete.