Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House represents a rare and outstanding architectural achievement: structural engineering that stretched the boundaries of the possible and sculptural architectural forms that raise the human spirit. It not only represents the masterwork of Utzon but also the exceptional collaborative achievements of engineers, building contractors and other architects. The Sydney Opera House is unique as a great building of the world that functions as a world-class performing arts centre, a great urban sculpture and a public venue for community activities and tourism. This monumental building has become a symbol of its city and the Australian nation. (Joan Domicelj 2005).

Danish architect Jørn Utzon was announced winner of the design competition in January 1957 with Ove Arup & Partners being appointed consulting structural engineer mid-year.

The foundations and podium of the House were constructed by Civil & Civic Contractors Pty Ltd, and M. R. Hornibrook (NSW) Pty Ltd was the contractor for the roofs and interior.

The Opera House was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October, 1973.

The Sydney Opera House has high scientific and technical significance for the ways in which its design and construction continually pushed engineering and building technologies to the limit, and for the many innovations which have since influenced structural design. The Opera House could not have been created in its present form without the outstanding creative and pioneering engineering contribution of consulting engineers Ove Arup & Partners, and the builders M.R. Hornibrook Pty Ltd.

The Sydney Opera House:

• was the first computer-designed building of significant scale; it could not have been built without the use of computers;

• involved the first example of factory manufacture and erection of large precast concrete units of complex geometry;

• involved the earliest example in the world of epoxy jointing of matched concrete segments;

• was the first large-scale use of laminated glass walls and roofs; and

• used an erection arch for construction of the roofs that was the most complex piece of scaffolding used in the construction industry in Australia.

Main roof and side shell.

Constructing erection arch.

Placing ridge segment (segment to be turned).

Engineers Australia digital plaque (a bronze plaque would intrude on the House’s heritage).

The Engineers Australia and American Society of Civil Engineers digital International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. (a bronze plaque would intrude on the House’s heritage).

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Sydney Opera House location map.

Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Engineering Heritage International Marker (EHIM)
Award Date	April 2022
Heritage Significance	The Sydney Opera House is one of the most recognsable buidings in the world and called for engineering of the highest calibre in its design and constrcution.
Nomination Document	Available here.