Value

Originally constructed as part of Sydney’s early commercial waterfront, 1 Kent Street has historically supported maritime and trade-related uses associated with Darling Harbour and the western CBD. The building is heritage-listed for its contribution to the historic streetscape and its representation of the evolution of commercial development along the harbour's edge. The former ‘Oswald Bond & Free Store’ retains many heritage features including exposed brick walls, timber columns and beams and operable sash windows. These features required the refurbishment to carefully retain and integrate significant elements, while accommodating contemporary safety, services and performance requirements.

Early certifier involvement was key to ensuring that compliance strategies were compatible with heritage outcomes, rather than imposed late in the process. During design development we provided early statutory guidance to help shape compliant and deliverable solutions which included:

- Review of design proposals against NCC requirements and heritage approval conditions
- Early advice on fire safety strategies, egress arrangements and services integration within the retained building fabric
- Identification of potential compliance risks arising from heritage constraints, allowing the design team to address them proactively
- Supporting TSA Riley and the consultant team in aligning design intent with approval and certification pathways

As Principal Certifier, our role integrated independent statutory oversight throughout the construction phase (including managing certification processes under the EP&A Act), coordinating and undertaking critical stage inspections (with particular focus on heritage-affected works), assessing compliance with the NCC, approved plans and consent conditions, and working closely with the builder and consultants to resolve unforeseen conditions typical of older buildings.

The completed refurbishment delivered a modern, compliant commercial building that respects the site’s heritage significance while meeting contemporary performance expectations. This project demonstrates the value of early and continuous certifier engagement, particularly on complex refurbishments where heritage, safety and construction realities must be carefully aligned.