Fred Ash Building

MPC were engaged by Newcastle City Council to provide structural engineering consulting services for repairs to the heritage masonry façade and planned improvements to the roof of the Fred Ash Building located off Hunter Street Newcastle, which was being used as office space by NCC.

MPC conducted a structural engineering investigation and assessment of the existing building to enable structural design of modifications to the roof of the building for construction of a new air-conditioning plant deck, as well as repairs to defects within the façade masonry.

MPC’s investigation process included visual inspection of the heritage façade masonry, laboratory testing of the masonry components, and inspection of the existing roof and parapet framing.

The design scope for the façade repairs included temporary propping and restraint frames, plus consideration of construction sequencing, to enable safely exposing corroeded ends of major floor beams and window lintels for repair.

MPC provided the structural design for new plant deck framing for the roof, as well as integration of the new structure with the existing building. MPC also coordinated architectural input for heritage aspects of the design as part of the commission.