Sydney Sandstone Precinct

Situated in the heart of Sydney, the Education Buildings, also known as “The Sandstones,” stand as an iconic and significant development. This project plays a vital role in creating a physical connection between Circular Quay and the commercial core of the Sydney CBD, while also preserving the city’s rich heritage links.

The undertaking involves the remarkable adaptive reuse of two Heritage Listed buildings on Bridge Street, Sydney. The goal is to transform these historic structures into a world-class luxury hotel, complete with a rooftop extension. The Education Building, once restored, will house 192 opulent hotel rooms, along with an internal pool, spa, and gym facilities, all seamlessly integrated within the restored heritage fabric. The Lands Building will also undergo careful conservation and repair works for its heritage facades, with adaptive reuse to accommodate luxury retail stores, F&B facilities, dining rooms, wellness amenities, and event spaces, including ballrooms with access to rooftop terraces.

Hera Engineering took on a pivotal role in this ambitions project, having been appointed by Built and GVK to design the post-tensioned slabs for levels 7 and above of the Education Department Building. This endeavour proved to be particularly challenging due to the limitations of the existing heritage building in supporting back propping loads and cantilevered scaffold during construction. To overcome this, Hera Engineering skilfully crafted specialist temporary designs and collaborated closely with the project engineer to ensure that the existing structure remained unstressed while enabling rapid construction progress.

The Education Buildings development stands as a testament to architectural excellence, seamlessly blending modern luxury with the preservation of Sydney’s treasured heritage. As the project moves forward, it is poised to become a prominent landmark and a source of pride for the city.