Engineering-Led Scaffolding Landmark Clifftop Build, Seaforth

At Stronghold Hire, we pride ourselves on being more than just a scaffold company. As specialists in scaffolding, edge protection and shrink wrap / containment solutions, we place a strong emphasis on planning, engineering and buildability — particularly on complex sites where standard solutions simply won’t work.

Our Battle Boulevard project in Seaforth is a perfect example of how detailed engineered design and 3D modelling play a critical role in overcoming challenging scaffold installations and delivering safe, precise outcomes.

Battle Boulevard Seaforth Project Overview

A Landmark Site with a One-of-a-Kind Structure

Positioned on a clifftop overlooking Sydney Harbour, this striking residential project is highly visible from The Spit Bridge and the surrounding waterways. Locals often refer to the home as “the spaceship” or “the goldfish bowl” due to its distinctive circular form — a description that quickly hints at the complexity involved from an access perspective.

The building curves continuously and expands outward as it rises, leaving no straight elevations or conventional scaffold layouts to follow. Every lift, ledger, transom and deck position needed to be purpose-designed to suit the building’s geometry while maintaining full compliance, safe access and workable platforms for multiple trades.

The Importance of Engineered Scaffold Design

Given the structure’s shape and the challenging clifftop conditions below, this was not a project suited to generic layouts or on-the-fly adjustments. From the outset, we engaged our scaffold engineer to develop a fully engineered scaffold design, tailored specifically to the site and structure.

The engineered package included:

1. Detailed plan and elevation drawings
2. 3D scaffold models showing how the scaffold interfaces with the building
3. Colour-coded drawings identifying different scaffold components and zones
4. Comprehensive equipment schedules and material lists

This level of detail allowed us to resolve potential issues on paper before materials ever arrived on site, significantly reducing risk and uncertainty during installation.

Clear Communication for Clients and Crews

The 3D images and engineered drawings provided clarity not just for compliance, but for everyone involved in the project.

For the client and builder, the visuals clearly showed:

• Exactly what scaffold was being installed
• How it would look alongside the existing building
• Where decks, loading points and access zones would be located

For our scaffold crews, the benefits were just as significant. The colour-coded layouts and equipment schedules enabled the team to build with precision, confidence and efficiency — knowing exactly what components were required, where they were going, and how each stage of the scaffold was intended to be assembled.

This approach minimised guesswork on site and ensured the scaffold was built exactly as designed.

Engineering Solutions for Cliff-Top Conditions

The ground conditions added another layer of complexity. With the scaffold founded on a steep clifftop, ground bearing capacity, stability and load paths were critical considerations.

The engineered design allowed us to address these challenges upfront, ensuring:

• Correct foundation solutions for the terrain
• Proper load distribution throughout the scaffold
• A compliant and robust structure suited to the exposed environment

By resolving these factors during the design phase, we were able to deliver a safe and reliable scaffold solution while protecting both the workforce and the structure itself.

Material Movement Without a Fixed Crane

With no fixed crane available on site, material logistics required careful planning. Using the engineered drawings as a guide, our team constructed temporary loading and hand-chain platforms, allowing scaffold materials to be safely passed down through the structure during installation — and again during final dismantle. This process relied heavily on sequencing and coordination, all of which was mapped out during the planning stage, ensuring efficient material movement without compromising safety or programme.

Staged Scaffolding for a Changing Build

Large feature windows were installed throughout the build, requiring the scaffold to be staged and reconfigured multiple times. Decks were moved and adjusted to allow clear access for lifting and installation, all while maintaining safe working platforms around the structure. These requirements were identified early at tender stage and incorporated into the engineered design and programme, allowing us to plan multiple visits and scaffold modifications without disruption to the build.

Delivered with Precision, On Time and On Budget

Despite the site constraints, complex geometry and logistical challenges, the Battle Boulevard scaffold was delivered on time and on budget. Through strong collaboration with the builder, engineer and trades on site, and by placing engineering and planning at the centre of the process, we delivered a scaffold solution that was safe, precise and fit for purpose.

Projects like this highlight what Stronghold Hire does best: engineering-led planning, clear communication and precise execution — even on the most challenging sites.