A heritage listed lecture theatre inside The John Woolley Building at the University of Sydney has undergone essential maintenance works following the installation of a custom scaffold system by Instant Access working on behalf of leading construction company Belmadar.

The project required a birdcage scaffold to be constructed across the entire lecture hall floor, giving tradespeople safe overhead access to lighting, suspended services and decorative ceiling features.

Engineering in a Heritage Setting

The John Woolley Building, one of the university's most recognisable heritage sites, presented unique challenges for the scaffold design. Strict safety standards had to be met while ensuring the preservation of original features, including the timber floors, tiered seating and ornate ceiling plasterwork.

Instant Access also needed to navigate the constraints of a steeply tiered lecture theatre with narrow entry points, while distributing scaffold loads evenly to safeguard the building's structure.

A Tailored Solution

Instant Access delivered a lightweight, modular aluminium scaffold configured as a full birdcage system. The installation provided:

• A stable working platform spanning the lecture theatre
• Edge protection and handrails for compliance and safety
• Clearance for multiple trades to operate simultaneously
• Careful load management to protect the heritage fabric of The John Woolley Building

"Projects like this highlight how engineered scaffold systems can support critical upgrades in sensitive environments," said Hakan Mete from Instant Access. "Our team takes pride in delivering access solutions that prioritise both worker safety and heritage preservation."

Instant Access extends its thanks to Belmadar and Senior Site Manager Tony Hadjakis for their collaboration on this project, which stands as an example of how modern engineering can support the maintenance of historic learning spaces.