This new shopping centre project, located on the corner of Keira and Crown Streets, is linked to General Property Trust’s existing Crown Central Shopping Centre fronting Crown Street Mall, with a bridge across Keira Street. 
The new six-storey centre, comprising three levels of retail and three levels of car parking, connects seamlessly to the existing centre. The 21,000m2 expansion hosts 80 new specialty stores and more than 600 additional car spaces for an enhanced retail experience. 
A key construction challenge for the project team involved the interface of the new development with the existing Wollongong Crown Central, located across Keira Street (the main road through Wollongong’s CBD). This involved the construction of a pedestrian bridge, providing above-street access and also the Keira Street underpass, for underground pedestrian access. The existing Wollongong Crown Central remained fully operational throughout these works. Keira Street also remained trafficable during these works.
The construction site is surrounded by laneways, commercial building and residential units, resulting in restricted site access for materials handling and demanding restraints on noise, vibration, dirt, dust and hours of work on the site. Continuous consultation was required with the client and surrounding office and residential occupants.
A major challenge was the complex finishes comprising bespoke timber ceilings, cladding and façade systems that had to be design developed concurrently with construction activities. One element of the façade comprised more than 50 unique panels of Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) which were fabricated interstate and transported to site for erection. 
The Hansen Yuncken site team, in conjunction with design consultants on this design and construct contract, completed the project in 146 weeks and overcame innumerable difficulties throughout. The result of this team’s effort is reflected in the new retail centre that has exciting new timber finishes throughout, combined with all workmanship being completed to an extremely high standard.