The 20 Martin Place project consisted of a complex refurbishment of an existing 1970s commercial tower. It was stripped back to a steel skeleton and rebuilt to create a signature 20-storey A-grade office tower incorporating a new high-performance façade system and achieving sustainability targets to achieve a 6 Star Green Star Office As Built rating. This project presented many challenges requiring innovative thinking, extensive research on the utilisation of specialist materials, and high-level collaboration with the client. Some key challenges included:     •    Progressive hazardous material removal top down.
•    Significant upgrading of the existing steel frame was required to ensure stability in its ‘stripped-down state’. This included additional steel bracing (50T) and the installation of temporary rock anchors.
•    Removal of demolished materials from the existing 21-storey building.
•    Structural-steel frame locally demolished to facilitate construction of new concrete core.
•    Extensive protection required during demolition of concrete encasing to the steel structure.
•    Excavation and underpinning in basement for new lift core pits and footings.
•    Conventional construction of new lift core to ground level, and then establish a jump for the upper levels to rise within the existing structural frame.
•    Demolition progresses to basement as new jump form rises above ground level.
•    Design and installation of a new bespoke façade.    Built initially worked with the design team via an ECI phase to implement value engineering, in order to provide savings to achieve the client’s budget. Close attention was paid to detailing by the construction team through establishing a close team environment, ensuring a focus on the end goal to achieve the elements required by the design team.  This refurbishment project was both complex and logistically challenging. The requirement to carry out underpinning to the structure, relocating the core, guaranteeing the floor area, removing all traces of asbestos within the building, delivery of a complex façade and the achievement of sustainability aspirations while incorporating innovative materials, meant the project had a high ‘degree of difficulty’ factor that Built had to deal with. Built has achieved an excellent outcome in overcoming these hurdles by carrying out extensive pre-construction planning, meticulous execution and a high degree of ingenuity which has led this project to being a worthy ‘Overall Winner’ of the 2016 MBA Excellence In Construction Awards.