The works to the Forgan Smith Tower located at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus involved the careful replacement of a 100-year-old roof on a heritage building with a state-of-the-art waterproof membrane. Gripfast had been previously engaged to review the works as a part of our Advisory services sector, in which Gripfast developed a Damage Assessment Report, which ultimately facilitated an expedited project initiation for our project management team.

The works involved the demolition and replacement of several elements on the main roof, including hoardings, flagpoles, windows, plinths and the existing roof membrane. While demolition itself is often a complex process, these works demanded special attention as they required the project team to balance safety requirements, due to the presence of asbestos, with heritage considerations, as the Forgan Smith Building holds a heritage status. Due to these complex project particulars, the Gripfast Team developed, implemented and managed the risks through a range of strategies to uphold project integrity.

To deliver the remediation of the asbestos within the building’s structure, specialised machinery was employed to ensure safety and preservation at all stages of the works. This was complicated by the complex context of the Forgan Smith Building, as it is both iconic and central to the UQ St Lucia campus, meaning all works were delivered in a live environment. Gripfast worked closely with UQ to establish a strict project schedule, which was supported by critical stakeholder groups, enabling the works to be undertaken safely and efficiently. This approach enabled Gripfast to ensure that the project was delivered in alignment with the university’s objectives and operational needs.