Revitalising the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct

The Walsh Bay Arts Precinct is an outstanding example of adaptive re-use. Breathing new life into a heritage site such as this, not only preserves the character of the past, it also promotes repurposing existing resources rather than discarding them. Classic Architectural Group are passionate supporters of adaptive re-use and have a broad range of products fit for this purpose. Classic supplied and installed Classic Tredfx Safety Stair Nosings and Tactiles throughout the Walsh Bay project, with the feature products selected from the Solid Brass Range. The finish and opulence of the solid brass, perfectly complements the original timber and history of the building. Brass not only brings a naturally beautiful aesthetic, but ages gracefully, making it ideal for a heritage project such as this.

The vision for the Walsh Bay project was to transform and revitalise Pier 2/3 and Wharf 4/5 into an arts destination, open and visible to the public. The internal spaces had to be tailored to the spirit and technical demands of each arts company – while the exterior was to be restored without compromising its heritage significance. As a public space, user safety and accessibility were paramount.

The sensitive nature of this project, working with heritage industrial structures above water, called for a highly collaborative and considered approach to all elements. The solid timber flooring of the wharf, whilst beautiful, posed a number of installation challenges. The Classic team worked within these constraints and adapted their install technique to overcome this.

Timeframes were also considerably tight, however the Classic team was able to effectively and flexibly project manage to deliver the product and complete the installation on time. This required extensive coordination with the build team and other sub-contractors on site.

Since completion, the project has been lauded for its quality architecture, winning the AIA NSW Architecture Medallion, as well as the NSW Greenway Award for Heritage Architecture, a Public Architecture Award, an Interior Design Award and the National Trust Heritage Award for Adaptive Re-use.