Client name: Urban Climb

Location: Adelaide, South Australia

Duration: 2023 – 2024

Services provided:

• Detailed structural and civil engineering design

Adelaide Bouldering Facility

Tetra Tech worked closely with Urban Climb to build their most adventurous bouldering facility to date, transforming an old cinema in the middle of Adelaide into a world-class bouldering complex.

Scope of Works

Tetra Tech was engaged by Urban Climb (Urban) to perform structural engineering design for the new bouldering facility which included the design of the support structures for the artificial climbing walls (ACW), the mezzanine structure and the suspended timber flooring.

Tetra Tech undertook the following scope items to deliver the project for Urban Climb:

• Investigation of the structural integrity of existing building for additional loadings from ACWs;
• Work with survey team to generate a functional 3D model of existing building;
• Liaise with the client and their Architect to develop 3D Rhino models of the proposed bouldering walls;
• Design and certification of the suspended timber flooring;
• Design, certification and shop-detail review of the steel mezzanine structure;
• Structural design of seven (7) custom ACW support structures, including detailed 3D modelling, 2D layout and detail drawings, and engineering calculations;
• Structural design and analysis using Finite Element Analysis for timber composite structures;
• Liase with and assist 3rdparty verification of the ACW support structures;
• Provide construction support throughout entire project, including several site inspections for steel erection, timber frame installation and final signoff; and
• Provision of final post construction certification and approval in accordance with Safework.

 

Project Challenges

Tetra Tech worked closely with our client to develop an innovative construction method for the ACW support structures, using timber plywood construction and steel tieback bracing. This approach enabled the client to complete the material processing in-house which lead to a reduction in the facility’s carbon footprint, and delivered significant savings in cost and time. As a result of material supply shortages, the implementation of the timber plywood structural supports were critical to keep the ambitious project timeline on track.

 

Key Outcomes