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Docklands Studio

Client: Kane Construction

Size: 700t

As one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, Sound Stage 6 at Docklands Studios Melbourne is poised to energize Victoria’s screen industry.

Completed in 2022, this 3,700 sqm sound stage boasts a 52-meter clear-span studio space, accompanied by a 1,900 sqm three-storey administration building.

Despite its straightforward appearance, delivering the 700-ton steel structure was technically demanding.

The roof features nine 52-meter-long trusses, each weighing 23 tons. The 18-meter-high ceiling grid comprises catwalk modules, 1.2 kilometers of integrated handrail, and steel-framed staircases. Critical connections to the façade and roof were essential to achieving the building’s high acoustic standards.

The installation methodology introduced unique challenges. Kane Constructions required a phased delivery of the structure, allowing subsequent trades to begin their work while the steel structure was still in a temporary state. Collaborating with independent engineers, we designed a temporary propping system that ensured the structure’s safety and allowed for the installation of pre-cast panels, cladding, and roofing, while steel installation progressed one bay ahead.

We successfully completed the project on time and within budget, meeting all contractual obligations for local procurement, manufacturing, and LIDP targets.