Seismic strengthening is well underway at Drifter

We’re three months into this project and while strengthening heritage buildings has it challenges, the team on site are moving at pace breathing new life into this 95-year-old building. Lots has been happening on this site, which was once a post office and more recently a Backpackers.

Installation of new micro piles has been completed. These were installed from the ground floor level due to restrictions of getting a suitable sized drilling rig into the basement. Also completed is the formation of the new foundation ground beams.

Work is well under way to commence forming the new concrete shear walls that are to strengthen the building, with reinforcing steel being tied and existing floors slotted. Preparation for the new exoskeletal concrete frame on the rear of the building is underway with foundation pads currently being prepared for the pouring of concrete. Interior strip out works are also progressing with half of the 8-storey building fully stripped out and demolition material being loaded out via the external materials hoist. This process has included a lot of careful salvage of heritage items that are to be reinstated upon completion of the strengthening works.

Aaron and his team continue to look forward to reinstating the original heritage features as the strengthening works are complete.