Design innovation by Aurecon and Cox Architecture delivered a new generation of flood resilient, elegant, accessible ferry terminals for Brisbane.

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Brisbane Ferry Terminals, Australia

Design innovation by Aurecon and Cox Architecture delivered a new generation of flood resilient, elegant, accessible ferry terminals for Brisbane

In January 2011, devastating floods severely damaged or destroyed seven of Brisbane’s ferry terminals. To protect against the paralysing effect of future floods, Brisbane City Council undertook a significant upgrade programme for the Brisbane ferry terminal network.  

Aurecon and Cox Architecture won an open design competition, which attracted 65 submissions from around the world, to design new ferry terminals that would be resilient to future flood events and accessible to all.

Video Transcript: Brisbane Flood Resilient and Accessible Ferry Terminals Design

Critical transport infrastructure in Brisbane was devastated when the river flooded in January 2011.The Aurecon and Cox Architecture team was passionate about finding a better way to make this critical ferry infrastructure more flood resilient, accessible and for travellers to enjoy and celebrate the river.
 
These new generation ferry terminals stretch conventional boundaries. They incorporate world leading flood resilient technology which means the terminal can be returned to operation shortly after a flood event. A single sculpted pier allows commuters to enjoy panoramic views of the Brisbane River. It deflects debris away from the pontoon while also providing primary restraint of the pontoon. And upstream fender absorbs flood impact and deflects objects to prevent damage.
 
During a flood, the gangway uses the floodwaters to become buoyant and automatically detach from the shore; swinging behind the pontoon and out of the way of debris. The mooring point changes function to provide a supplementary lateral restraint to the pontoon. The downstream arm pivots below the water line. A chain connected to an underwater pile secures the downstream arm. The pontoon’s boat shaped hull makes it more resilient by minimising flood drag force. Believed to be a world first for compliant disabled access, the unique gangway mechanics maintain level intermediate landings throughout the tidal range. An innovative hanging floor within the gangway structure uses pinned parallelogram frames which can rotate and are connected to fixed triangular frames that maintain their installed level regardless of how the internal structure moves.
 
Now everyone is able to enjoy the iconic Brisbane Ferry Terminals and commuters and the city will benefit from resilient terminals that can quickly return to use after a flood.

Flood resilient, accessible, elegant

Design objectives were to:

  • improve flood resilience
  • achieve wheelchair and mobility aid accessibility
  • deliver a modern, ambitious and elegant architectural design in the maritime environment that eliminated the traditional array of pontoon guide piles

The challenge of integrating these competing design objectives required deep collaboration between the maritime, industrial mechanical and architectural disciplines. The depth of this collaboration is at the core of the project’s many innovations.

Learn more about how Aurecon and Cox Architecture used digital engineering tools to marry the engineering and architectural intent of the new generation ferry terminals through the case study below.

Brisbane Ferry Terminals Case Study

Case Study: Brisbane Ferry Terminals ›
Brisbane Ferry Terminals Case Study

Case Study: Brisbane Ferry Terminals ›

The Engineering Challenge

The Brisbane Ferry Terminals project has delivered a shining example of ferry terminal ingenuity, driving flood resilient structures which are accessible to all. It is believed to be the world’s first example of a solution to providing level landings to achieve compliant disability access in public ferry infrastructure.

As part of the engineering requirements, all visible piles needed to be removed from the river. A single sculpted pier and gangway acting as a radial arm now provides all lateral support to the pontoon. An upstream fender absorbs the energy of and deflects heavy objects away during a flood event to prevent damage to the terminal.

A boat-hull shape inspired pontoon reduces negative lift on leading edge and drag force during floods.

The terminal’s gangway utilises buoyancy to automatically detach from the shore during flood events, swinging behind the broad downstream end of the pontoon and out of the way of debris; simultaneously the pontoon’s downstream mooring point changes function to provide lateral restraint to the pontoon in a flood or post-flood situation.

Unique gangway floor mechanics maintain level intermediate landings throughout the tidal range provide what is believed to be a world-first solution for achieving compliant disabled access.

Design innovation in flood resilience

Brisbane’s new ferry terminals all include technology to help them better withstand floods. They are a bold design concept and a significant shift away from previous design convention in aesthetics, flood resilience and accessibility.

This technology to provide resilience in infrastructure can be applied to any ferry terminal network, and in particular those subject to flooding. The unique flood resilient design features allow for a terminal which can be returned to operation shortly after significant flood events. The design ushers in a new generation of terminals which provide resilience and longevity even in the face of natural disasters.

Aurecon delivered all design elements for the ferry terminals, including:

Award winning

This project has won the following awards for Aurecon:

  • Institution of Civil Engineers Brunel Medal 2017 – Flood Resilient and Accessible Ferry Terminals for Brisbane
  • Good Design Australia Awards 2017 – Good Design Award of the Year – Flood Resilient and Accessible Ferry Terminals for Brisbane (Cox Architecture in association with Aurecon)
  • Good Design Australia Awards 2017 –  Best in Category, Product Design, Commercial and Industrial – Flood Resilient and Accessible Ferry Terminals for Brisbane (Cox Architecture in association with Aurecon)
  • Good Design Australia Awards 2017 –  Best Overall, Product Design – Flood Resilient and Accessible Ferry Terminals for Brisbane (Cox Architecture in association with Aurecon)
  • Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards 2016 – National Awards – Sir William Hudson award - Brisbane's Flood Recovery Ferry Terminals
  • Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards 2016 – Queensland Division – Winner: Overall Project: R W Hawken Award – Brisbane's Flood Recovery Ferry Terminals (Aurecon, Cox Architecture and Brisbane City Council)
  • Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards 2016 – Queensland Division – Winner: Excellence Award (Innovation/Research and Development) – Brisbane's Flood Recovery Ferry Terminals (Aurecon, Cox Architecture and Brisbane City Council)
  • Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Awards 2016 – Queensland Division – Winner: Excellence Award (Project Infrastructure) – Brisbane's Flood Recovery Ferry Terminals (Aurecon, Cox Architecture and Brisbane City Council)
  • Australian Institute of Architects 2016 Queensland Architecture Awards – State Award – Public Architecture, Brisbane Regional Commendation – Urban Design – Brisbane CityCat Ferry Terminals Renewal (Cox Architecture with Aurecon)
  • Good Design Awards 2016 – Good Design Selection, Architectural Design: Urban Design and Public Spaces – The New Flood-Resilient Brisbane Ferry Terminals (Cox Architecture in association with Aurecon)
  • Infrastructure Partnerships Australia 2016 National Infrastructure Awards – Finalist – Smart Infrastructure Award: Brisbane Ferry Terminals
  • Consult Australia Awards for Excellence 2015 – Gold Award Winner – Design Innovation (with Cox Architecture)
  • World Architecture Festival, 2013 – Future Project of the Year (Infrastructure) –Brisbane Ferry Terminals Post-Flood Recovery (Cox Architecture with Aurecon)
  • Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet – Brisbane Ferry Terminals Design Competition – 2011 (Cox Architecture with Aurecon)

Designing flood resilient ferry terminals – 3D modelling design

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