46 Edward St Summer Hill
From Industrial Warehouse to Education Hub
The project at 46 Edward St Summer Hill involved a major conversion of an existing 4-storey industrial warehouse, spanning 2000m², into a Class 9b educational facility (school). This transformation was driven by the Landlord’s vision to revitalise the substantial asset and unlock its commercial viability. The spatial program was comprehensive, requiring the conversion of industrial space into dedicated art studios, numerous classrooms, lecture rooms, staff rooms, computer rooms, and workshops, alongside the integration of new essential services such as a passenger lift, AWC facilities, and updated fire passages, defining the future of 46 Edward St Summer Hill.
Type
Commercial
Location
46 Edward St Summer Hill
Size
2000m2
Studio PFA’s Compliance-Focused Role
Studio PFA was engaged to provide partial services, specifically focused on the meticulous preparation and approval of the Construction Certificate (CC) documentation. Our primary role was to further develop the Development Application (DA) approved drawings, originally by Tony Owen Partners, ensuring they achieved full National Construction Code (NCC) compliance while strictly maintaining the original design intent. This involved design work, including documentation on fire rated external facade works, crucial for transforming the industrial shell into the compliant school environment at 46 Edward St Summer Hill.
Performance Solutions and Vertical Access Challenges
The industrial nature of the existing building at 46 Edward St Summer Hill presented significant compliance obstacles, particularly concerning fire safety and access. We initiated several performance solutions through close collaboration with our trusted network of fire and access consultants. A key technical challenge was achieving compliance for a non-fire isolated stairway connecting three consecutive storeys, deviating from the Deemed-to-Satisfy (DtS) requirement of two. Successfully resolving this required innovative solutions to maintain vertical movement within the structure of 46 Edward St Summer Hill.
Navigating Accessibility and Environmental Constraints
Beyond fire safety, the project required addressing multiple existing accessibility non-compliances. A notable challenge was modifying the main entry ramp to ensure functional access without compromising the required accessible parking provisions—a detailed exercise in site-specific problem-solving. Furthermore, the property’s location on flood-prone land necessitated extra consideration and specialized detailing for the mechanical and electrical services, mitigating the environmental risk factor and securing the safe operation of the school within 46 Edward St Summer Hill.
Successful Compliance, Unlocking Commercial Potential
In summary, Studio PFA successfully obtained the CC approval for 46 Edward St Summer Hill. This achievement was highly complex, given the significant number of performance solutions required to bridge the gap between the existing industrial shell and the strict Class 9b standards. Despite the initial industrial limitations, the successful outcome of the CC process confirms that the transformation of 46 Edward St Summer Hill into an educational facility is now fully compliant and commercially viable as intended by the Landlord.