NSW Art Gallery Sydney Modern

The Sydney Modern Project at the NSW Art Gallery is a landmark initiative aimed at nearly doubling the gallery's space, enhancing its ability to display and celebrate art for generations to come. This significant expansion is part of a broader $344 million transformation funded by the NSW Government and private donors.

The project is designed to integrate art, architecture, and landscape in a dynamic and accessible way, enriching the cultural fabric of Sydney. To facilitate this expansion, extensive groundwork was required, including the excavation of substantial volumes of rock and the careful demolition of existing infrastructure.

These preparatory works were essential to create a solid foundation for the new gallery spaces while preserving the surrounding environment and ensuring the site's structural integrity.

Rock Excavation: Approximately 45,000m³ of rock was excavated to prepare the site for the new gallery structures. This task required the use of heavy machinery and included implementing site retention systems to maintain site stability throughout the excavation process.

Site Retention and Anchoring: Extensive site retention measures were necessary to secure the area during excavation. Temporary and permanent anchors, along with shotcrete walls, were installed to protect the surrounding infrastructure, including the Eastern Distributor and nearby buildings, ensuring that the excavation did not impact the structural integrity of the site or adjacent properties.

Soil Stripping and Roof Demolition of Tanks: Soil was stripped from the roofs of the two large inground fuel tanks using a 70t excavator. Structural engineers verified that the tank roofs could support the equipment. The tank roofs were then demolished in a controlled manner, with debris carefully managed and disposed of to prevent any safety risks or structural overloads.