Sirius Building Redevelopment: A Brutalist Icon Reimagined with Modern Luxury and Longevity
The redevelopment of the iconic Sirius building, located in the heart of The Rocks in Sydney, involved a thoughtful reimagining and expansion of the original floor plan to create a collection of luxury apartments. This project is a prime example of adaptive reuse, maintaining the essence of the building’s brutalist architecture while infusing it with contemporary design.
Given its location by Sydney Harbour and the exposure to harsh weather and saltwater, the protection of the building’s concrete structure was paramount. Penetron Admix was selected as the superior solution for this critical aspect of the project.
The Penetron Admix waterproofing admixture was chosen for the most high-risk areas of the new concrete placement, including the podium slab, retaining walls, and pool areas. This admixture extends the service life of the concrete by up to 60 years by significantly reducing permeability, thereby offering long-term protection from water penetration and deterioration.
When added to the concrete mix, PENETRON ADMIX permanently seals micro-cracks, pores, and capillaries, protecting the concrete even under high hydrostatic pressure. Now in its third generation, PENETRON ADMIX continues to lead the industry with its unmatched performance, without affecting the concrete’s strength, slump, or setting time.
The redevelopment is a collaboration between builder Richard Crookes Construction, SCP Engineers, BVN Architecture, and Boral (Concrete Supplier), all working together to preserve and enhance this architectural landmark.
The Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre, transformed by NBRS Architecture, and constructed by Cockram, is a new, inclusive, community minded aquatic facility in Lidcombe, Sydney. The site was comprehensively renewed to create a state-of-the-art centre that respects the historic, social and aesthetic significance of the original fabric. Integrated landscaped areas express strong geometries and provide family friendly recreation areas. The aquatic centres predecessor, the Auburn Pool, which opened in 1959 had become severely degraded and required rejuvenation to satisfy industry standards and to meet the growing needs of the community for years to come.
The centre features outdoor 50m and 25m lap pool, springboard diving, an interactive water play area and an extensive surrounding concourse with spectator grandstand. The indoor facility includes a 25m lap pool, family leisure pool and program pool.
Peneseal FH was selected to provide long term protection to the exposed concrete surrounding the pools and water play areas. Exposed to water and chemical ingress, Peneseal FH provides long term protection to the concrete without changing its appearance.
Penebar SW-55 was installed to all construction joints in and around the pool build and to any area where protection from water ingress was required.
