Originally built in 1844, extensively modified in 1887, 1903 and again in the 1990s, Sydney’s Customs House has been a Circular Quay landmark for generations.

Its latest incarnation is a $14 million project to give the City of Sydney Public Library a new home over three floors and two floors of commercial space. Café Sydney retains its position on the roof of the building (and remained open during construction, just to add another challenge).

As always with heritage reconstruction, attention to detail, close collaboration with the design team and the ability to adapt to the unexpected were essential throughout.

Construction highlights are the reinforced concrete spiral staircase (reputedly the world’s second largest – after the one in Paris’ Louvre) and the specially-excavated cavity for the giant scale model of Sydney and the trafficable glass floor over it.

As part of the renovation, new openings were needed in the façade. The stones we removed were all labeled and stored on-site along with detailed instructions for their replacement should this ever be needed.