COMPANY
PROJECT LOCATION
COUNTRY
AREA
COST
BUILDING TYPE
CONSTRUCTION
PERIOD OF INVOLVEMENT
NBRS Architecture
231 Elizabeth Street Croydon, NSW 2132
Gadigal/Wangal people of the Eora nation
380sqm
$2 Million
Educational Facility
Steel frame, lightweight partition, Masonry
2022 – September 2023
The ‘231 Elizabeth Street’ project involved the change of use, refurbishment and upgrade of a small two storey warehouse into an educational establishment to provide a senior school Technical Applied Studies (TAS) student workshop, staff workshop, material store and staff room.
NBRS was engaged by their longstanding client, Presbyterian Ladies’ College Sydney (PLC Sydney), to provide architectural and coordination services from concept design to construction phase. I was involved in the project from the design development documentation stage, in which we submitted the DA to Inner West Council, until completion.
The majority of works were internal, except for making good to the existing external windows, adding a new roller shutter to the back lane of the building, restoring the external front awning, implementing external school signage and modifying the external entrance glazed door to provide DDA compliance access to the learning space.
Construction Drawings
The construction drawings formed a focused and precise package, tailored to the project’s modest scale and existing building fabric. Working within an adaptive reuse context required careful consideration of what could be retained and how best to integrate new interventions. As the existing structure was opened up, site conditions informed several on-the-spot design decisions. Being involved during this stage allowed me to gain valuable hands-on experience — learning how to assess conditions in real time, collaborate with contractors, and adapt design solutions to achieve the best possible outcome while maintaining design intent.
Demolition Plans
PROPOSED GROUND FLOOR PLAN
PROPOSED FIRST FLOOR PLAN
PROPOSED ROOF PLAN
Proposed Floor Plans
Proposed Reflected Ceiling Plans (RCP), Elevations and Sections
Details: Ramps, Stairs & Signage
Due to the scale of the project, much of the documentation, coordination, and RFI process was managed directly by myself and the project architect. Working within a small team created an invaluable opportunity to take ownership of the project and be involved in all stages of delivery. This hands-on experience allowed me to strengthen my technical knowledge, improve communication across disciplines, and gain a deeper understanding of how design decisions translate into construction outcomes.
Construction Phase
During construction, close collaboration between the design and site teams ensured that the project remained true to its intent while responding to the realities of the existing building. As elements were uncovered, thoughtful decisions were made on site to integrate new work with retained fabric. This adaptive, coordinated approach maintained efficiency and quality, resulting in a refined outcome that reflects both careful planning and responsive craftsmanship.
Site Walk: Initial walkthrough and review of existing conditions.
Site Progress: Ongoing site visits to observe framing, services, and general progress.
Site Review: Final detailing and finishes underway across key spaces.