Interior Fitouts

When a building changes owner, tenant or use, the fitout is often treated as an architectural exercise. It is not only that. Reconfiguring a space can change loads, layouts, penetrations, suspended services and the way the building resists wind and earthquakes. For this project, Cook Costello assessed the existing structure and designed the structural modifications required to turn a bare building shell into a high-use arcade game space.

Our structural engineers:

• Reviewed original drawings and inspected the site to understand the existing structural system

• Assessed the capacity of the existing floor slabs, beams and bracing elements

• Designed new internal structural elements to support walls, ceilings, feature installations and mechanical plant

• Developed bracing solutions to support compliance with wind and seismic requirements

• Coordinated with architects, services engineers and contractors so the design was both constructible and aligned with the intended use of the space

A key challenge in fitout projects is making sure changes to the internal layout do not compromise the building’s lateral load path or diaphragm action. Our team assessed the effect of new penetrations, suspended loads and redistributed masses so the modified structure could continue to perform as intended under wind and earthquake loading.

The result is a space that feels entirely new, while remaining structurally integrated with the original building and supported by a design that matches its new use.