Forming part of the new Quay Quarter precinct development in Sydney’s Circular Quay, the project is a base-build refurbishment of two 19th century heritage buildings in Loftus Lane. The Gallipoli Memorial Club building, which dates from 1880, will be restored and conserved, and basement levels will be created to house a new museum. Nearby heritage-listed 1860s wool store, Hinchcliff House, will be converted into a three-storey retail and dining venue, including high-end fashion, hole-in-the-wall cafes and basement bars. Developed by AMP Capital and scheduled for completion in 2021, the 11,000 square metre Quay Quarter will feature a new 200-metre tower overlooking a mixed-use precinct of apartments, urban green space and 5,000 square metres of lifestyle, services, food and dining retail. To achieve the design intent at the Gallipoli Memorial Club, Belmadar faced a significant challenge in maintaining lateral stability during the demolition of the vertical structural elements and basement excavation. The structural engineer proposed extensive temporary structural steel bracing at a high cost. Belmadar developed an alternative solution using 80% of the permanent structural steel with minimal temporary bracing, resulting in significant cost savings. At the Gallipoli Memorial Club, the ground slab was demolished, and archaeological investigations revealed 1850s cigarette holders and undated beer bottles. As a result, a new suspended ground slab has been constructed with new structural steel column foundations. At Hinchcliff House, the heritage timber floor structure has been removed for storage. The basement slab was demolished, with archaeological investigations revealing additional cigarette holders, undated beer bottles, and heritage drainage pipes and pits. Temporary propping and scaffolding have been installed before the demolition of the stair core, and ongoing rock excavation is taking place to increase the basement depth.