The challenge
The New South Wales government planned a redevelopment project that will boost Sydney’s events industry, but the city’s topography posed risks to the project’s viability.
The New South Wales government planned a redevelopment project that will boost Sydney’s events industry, but the city’s topography posed risks to the project’s viability.
Arcadis conducted a comprehensive study to assess the risks and help futureproof the entire project site from floods.
With its reconfigured design, ICC Sydney is ready to boost Sydney’s position as an exhibition center.
of exhibition space
convention center
flood maps delivered
Sydney’s Darling Harbour has been many things — a food and transport hub during pre-colonial years, a place for shipyards and wharves, and a center for change that introduced Australia’s Industrial Revolution technologies. This is the legacy that the New South Wales government wanted to build on when it unveiled its plan for the construction of the $1 billion International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) that will mirror Darling Harbour’s roots as a hub for people and innovation.
Carrying out the flood study required our team to consider a number of complex issues such as previously unseen environmental factors, tight timelines and long-term impacts on the precinct. We used new and innovative methodologies to develop flood models that capture the unique conditions of the 20ha redevelopment site. This process resulted in the production of a 362-page flood study and 50 flood maps that key stakeholders used to adjust the final design of the project. Specifically, our study revealed that flood levels in key areas were up to 50mm lower than the findings of the previous flood assessment.
The results of our flood study allowed floor levels to be significantly lower which, in turn, provided better development outcomes and helped futureproof the precinct from the impacts of flooding. In addition, our involvement in the design of ICC Sydney and Darling Square ensured seamless integration of the Convention Centre to the existing precinct, which helped in achieving a holistic design approach to the entire Darling Harbour area.