(Above) An artist’s impression of the food court of Westfield Knox, redesigned to bring the outside in. Watch the video here
Robert Bird Group, a member of the Surbana Jurong Group, is providing structural engineering services for the AUD$355 million upgrade of the Westfield Knox shopping centre in the state of Victoria.
The regeneration of the precinct at the foothills of the scenic Dandenong Ranges will provide Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs with increased access to retail and lifestyle facilities with the introduction of a new swim school, a 2,000sqm public library, a National Basketball League-specified full-size basketball court, a multi-purpose community space, a new fresh food area and the relocation of the existing food court. The emphasis is on bringing the outside in so that users of the upgraded Westfield Knox get to sit among the greenery in an internal courtyard which is open to the elements.
RBG’s scope also includes engineering reviews to reduce its carbon footprint through numerous sustainably-focused initiatives, including a structural review for a large rooftop solar system to generate onsite renewable electricity using 3,000 solar panels on the roof, an onsite rainwater harvesting tank to support landscaping irrigation for the indoor plants, and low carbon material specification.
This redevelopment project will benefit some 474,000 people in the centre’s immediate catchment area, while 2.2 million people are estimated to have access to the centre. The main draws are the community-based features, such as the basketball courts, the library and the swim school, rather than traditional retail. Read more
