Pure diagrid building: Australia’s tallest

4,000 tonnes of steel is about to be erected on site at Jubilee Place – Brisbane’s first pure diagrid building and, upon completion, Australia’s tallest.

This unique structural engineering solution was formulated by Robert Bird Group as a response to various site constraints, most notably to reduce the building’s load on the Clem Jones tunnel. Encapsulating the entire perimeter of the building, the concrete filled steel tube diagrid provides lateral stability, without reliance on the concrete lift core as is typical of most structural designs.

As a by-product, it has provided a unique and iconic aesthetic which has been celebrated in the building’s architectural expression. Damon Kambouris, Robert Bird Group’s Structures Manager agrees that the authenticity of the design intent is noteworthy. “The great thing about Jubilee Place is its honesty. Every part of the structure is on display, and every part of the structure is a response to the constraints of this site. That is truly satisfying as a structural engineer. Buildings like Jubilee Place don’t come around too often, and we are very proud of our role in making it a reality.”

Designing around Jubilee Place’s unique site constraints has proven to be a demonstration in experience and skill, and added valuable area to the building. However thinking through the methodology required to construct such a unique structure has provided an even more challenging overlay.

Take a look at the construction sequencing animation on our LinkedIn page that shows the outcome of that thinking, and provides glimpse of what you will start to see happening on site very shortly.

The building has been designed to largely support itself during construction in its partially built form. Taking this approach greatly reduces the amount of temporary propping and also facilitates the large cantilevered floor plates that float 7.5m above the Jubilee Hotel. The plaza soffit provided by this cantilever is a key element defining the public realm below, and its unique geometry gathers the forces of the exoskeleton above and ties the structure together.