he Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre Development ‘up-cycles’ a disused industrial warehouse located next to the existing Marrickville Metro Centre while also extending south, adding an additional 11,000m², offering two levels of retail and three levels of parking, leisure outlets and an alfresco dining area.
The new centre combines the retailing of local produce with the creation of an exciting hub of drinking and dining experiences that complement and enhance the unique culture of Sydney’s Inner West. The development fits seamlessly into its contemporary urban landscape, providing atmosphere inspired by the diversity of the local community and one of the world’s most liveable areas.
A key focus of the project team was to deliver socially and environmentally focused solutions, working closely with local stakeholders to ensure the space and delivery approach respected the cultural diversity of the area. Anchored by a new Coles store and 45 new retail tenancies, the building is a living and breathing artwork harnessing the industrial history of the area, incorporating the existing factory façade, bespoke façade cladding and murals. Embracing raw construction materials throughout the project demonstrates an appreciation for the structure and services and celebrates the effort and skill of trades normally concealed.
A new pedestrian footbridge between the two centres is a key feature of this outstanding retail development project that speaks to the importance of connection between the old and the new, with a sense that the structure truly belongs in the local Marrickville streetscape.
ADCO brought to the fore its extensive experience in retail construction, particularly working in and next to existing retail spaces in high traffic areas. This project required extensive engagement at multiple stages with numerous centre stakeholders, including customers, tenants and operations team. The construction team collaborated with key stakeholders in the form of Inner West Council, Sydney Metro, Ausgrid, Sydney Water and Jemena for the significant external road network upgrade, bridge planning and delivery, power augmentation, public domain works, and services installation and diversions in and around critical water infrastructure assets.
The site office was located on the rooftop carpark of the existing centre which allowed for the site staff, induction room and offices for the major trades. The site accommodation for the demolition and initial excavation was located on the western end of the site on existing hardstand, then relocated to the eastern elevation along Murray St and multi-stacked portable buildings to accommodate a workforce of 160 operatives during the structure phase. The final site establishment was located within the new carpark on Level 2 and included the site office, client retail offices and site accommodation for 220 construction workers. This accommodation was then effectively doubled in area to meet and exceed the requirements of newly introduced Covid-19 protocols.
The site was enclosed by a robust A Class hoarding and included concrete barriers to protect against the risk of local traffic, with access gates established on Murray St, Smidmore St and Edinburgh Rd. Although the entire site had street frontage, local traffic impediments restricted materials handling and concrete pumping to one zone.
Materials handling for the structure required a 75m tower crane centrally placed within the site and positioned through a retail mall void. The floor finishes are polished concrete, making it necessary to ensure there were no penetration infills within the retail space. Other considerations were to ensure adequate reach to the site and maintain the recovery radius to 40m. The crane was supplemented by a telehandler, forklifts and a man & materials hoist.
The façade of the existing factory was maintained to incorporate the industrial heritage of Marrickville into the final design. Prior to the demolition of the building, a detailed study was undertaken to determine the suitability of the existing foundation structure, with a robust support structure installed to support the structure during demolition and construction. The lead paint was removed under controlled conditions and the façade cleaned and repointed and secured to the new structure.
An accelerated structural program was achieved by a redesign of the concrete mix and post tension slabs, allowing for the early removal of the structural slab props. A greater efficiency in the sequencing of concrete pours was achieved by redesigning the location and number of temporary movement joints required. A thorough review of the tender structural design yielded value engineering options that provided substantial cost savings. Reduced floor to ceiling heights were achieved in the carparks by the orientation, width and depth of the band beams.
Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre Development contains an extraordinary number of unique design and construction challenges, from the heritage demands of the project to the complex structural challenges, congested construction environment and significant interfaces and stakeholder requirements. The project features multiple community and environmentally-focused solutions that respect the significant cultural diversity of Sydney’s Inner West area. The quality of the bespoke finishes and architectural features masks the significant effort required by the delivery team to bring this dynamic precinct to life. The standard of finish and overall complexity of Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre make it a worthy winner.