Structural Design Solutions

11/10/2026

04/08/2026

For engineers across all disciplines, El Niño presents a unique challenge, bringing hotter and drier conditions, particularly in Eastern and Southern Australia.

These environmental pressures can catalyse bushfires, put stress on water supplies, increase heat loads on infrastructure and cause transport network delays.

Across the built environment, engineers are responding to these pressures through newly adapted designs and established strategies. These include improved passive cooling, higher-performance building envelopes, reflective materials, increased urban greening and infrastructure built to withstand higher temperatures.

Our full analysis: https://brnw.ch/21x4rNn

12/05/2026

After more than 4 years of construction, Powerhouse Parramatta building works are now complete.

It’s the largest museum ever built in NSW and will become a major institution for Western Sydney, bringing science, technology, design and applied arts together under one roof.

The museum will open with 5 major exhibitions, including Task Eternal, one of the most ambitious exhibitions ever staged in the world.

More info: https://powerhouseparramatta.insw.com/insw/powerhouse-parramatta

13/03/2026

Sydney will be getting a new inner-city suburb known as Bays West.

We're delivering up to 8,500 homes, including homes for frontline workers near the under-construction Bays West Metro station on Glebe Island.

The precinct will include new public waterfront spaces and night-time venues around the historic White Bay Power Station, with metro and ferry access plus new walking and cycling links.

Photo: artist's impression of Bays West

25/02/2026

The construction industry is the fourth largest contributor to the Australian economy. Despite this importance, its productivity has fallen by 1.6 per cent since 1990, while other industries have grown by 35.2 per cent. This widening gap costs the nation around $47 billion every year.

These challenges point to the urgent need for a new approach. The rapid digitisation of other industries after the COVID pandemic, coupled with the growing accessibility of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, has made clear the potential for technology to reshape construction. Industry 4.0 theory positions digital transformation as a requirement, not an option.

One study shows that emerging technologies can help solve Australia’s productivity, safety and cost challenges, but adoption is still in the early stages. The need for action is urgent.

Read more: https://brnw.ch/21x0eA8

13/02/2026

Nobody expects an iPhone to reflect the latest level of technological innovation a decade after it’s manufactured. For Kumar Srinivasan, Director of Risk and Insurance at UTS, the principle is the same for long-term infrastructure projects.

“Consider it in the context of the Sydney Metro. When we initially designed the tunnel infrastructure for some sections of the rail corridor, 4G was the prevailing technology. However, 5G had arrived by the time construction work was underway, and integrating 5G infrastructure into the tunnels at that stage wasn’t easy.

“Infrastructure projects must anticipate technological evolution and embed flexibility into their design and contractual frameworks to avoid potentially costly retrofits.”

Here’s how Australian engineers are embracing modular, future-ready systems designed to embrace change: https://brnw.ch/21wZLKJ

08/02/2026

08/02/2026

Three UNSW students will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina this month. 🎿

Charlotte Wilson, Emma Bosco and George Murphy are members of UNSW's Elite Athlete Program, which supports students competing in high-level sports and pursuing academic excellence.

Congratulations Charlotte, Emma and George – go for gold! 🏆

Read more 🔗 https://www.unsw.edu.au/news/2026/01/unsw-s-mogul-trio-set-to-represent-australia-at-the-winter-olymp