Federation Square Melbourne

Fire engineering wins landmark project

The findings of a decade of fire engineering research by BHP proved decisive in the selection of composite steel construction for the 26,000sqm deck of Melbourne’s landmark Federation Square project.

The high-profile project, which created almost three hectares of new ‘land’ in the heart of Melbourne, was built by Multiplex Constructions for Victoria’s Office of Major Projects. The primary challenge was to build a deck over the railway yards extending from Flinders Street Station without compromising the rail services coming and going through Melbourne’s busiest rail hub. 

As erection of structural members was limited to as little as four hours a night, the use of fabricated structural steel beams and permanent steel formwork offered an attractive solution, but cost was always the overriding factor.