Rork Projects was contracted by Randwick City Council to replace the existing toilet block and change rooms building at Paine Reserve, originally constructed in the 1940s. The aim of the project was to provide fully accessible toilet facilities, as well as home and away change facilities for sports teams, in compliance with modern accessibility standards.
The new amenities block was designed to extend the existing building, while retaining most of the blockwork walls. The facility includes 2 change rooms, each with a shower and toilet, a referee’s change room, 3 unisex WC’s, and one accessible WC. Additionally, storage for sports clubs and a new plant room for bore water filtration equipment were incorporated into the design.
One of the client’s requirements for the project was to reuse the existing internal walls, showcasing the possibility of repurposing existing building elements to reduce construction waste. However, during the demolition phase, it was discovered that the existing floor slab began to crack and lacked reinforcement bars, necessitating the construction of a new floor slab.
The project faced several challenges, including inclement weather with about a month’s worth of rain, shallow bedrock, and some supply issues. Furthermore, the relocation of the existing bore water treatment plant required careful coordination and planning to minimize disruptions to the construction timeline.
Despite these challenges, the standout achievement of the project was the successful reuse of the existing structure and almost all of the existing internal walls. This demonstrated the feasibility of repurposing existing building elements in a new construction, resulting in reduced environmental impact.
As an Indigenous business, we proudly acknowledge that this project was completed on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.