Scott Carver - Sydney Opera House VAPS

Sydney Opera House VAPS

Architecture

Vehicle Access and Pedestrian Safety SOH

Challenge

As architects and lead consultant for the project, the Scott Carver team was responsible for managing the detailed design and documentation needs of the project, collaboratively solving the complex and unique challenges inherent in the client brief. The project utilised a fully integrated Building Information Modeling (BIM) approach, combining the knowledge of the consultant team, client and stakeholders into an information-rich database to solve the complex three-dimensional geometry of the operational functions, structures and services.

Insight

The Vehicle Access and Pedestrian Safety Project (VAPS) was a complex project involving a range of design, engineering and logistical challenges inherent in constructing an underground loading dock beneath a World Heritage Listed masterpiece.

Solution

This project removed up to 1,000 vehicle movements per week from the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, providing enhanced safety for the 8.2 million tourists and visitors who frequent Australia’s busiest cultural precinct. This was achieved by tunnelling below sea level to create an underground loading dock with connections up into the back of house areas of the Opera Theatre and Concert Hall.