This project involved refurbishment of the existing Grand Arcade building podium to provide a new foodcourt and activated retail spaces, and construction of a new childcare centre in a land-locked site. The project presented some real technical challenges with interconnection of multiple floor levels of retail space, large numbers of evacuating occupants using common stairs discharging to different levels, and difficult fire-fighting vehicle and personnel access to the site and through the buildings.
We were able to overcome these challenges with understanding and implementation of complex smoke and evacuation modelling techniques, and by liaising with key stakeholders early and often to mitigate the technical and approval risks of the project on behalf of our Client.