Quay Waterfront Newstead

Quay Waterfront Newstead is an impressive new residential tower located on Brisbane’s riverfront. Rising 27 storeys, it features 135 premium residential units, a rooftop swimming pool, a gym, ground floor retail spaces, and three levels of basement car parking. The development is celebrated as a “living, breathing building,” offering 2,000m² of new public parkland and incorporating abundant natural and green elements into its facade to create a lush, relaxing atmosphere.

Jensen Hughes was appointed as the fire safety engineer for the project. Our team developed comprehensive fire safety engineering assessments to support the design vision of Quay. The building’s complex geometry, high level of amenity, and diverse mix of residential, retail, basement, and rooftop spaces presented a unique challenge, balancing design flexibility with optimal safety outcomes.

Our work encompassed the fire resistance strategy for the facade and internal bounding walls, the performance of fire and smoke separation systems, and the interface between residential spaces and shared amenities. We developed tailored solutions for glazed facade junctions, balcony construction, inter building separation with Isle (Stage 2), and the integration of fire rated systems around services and drainage.

We also examined egress arrangements across the building, optimising travel distances, stair designs, rooftop evacuation paths, and basement circulation to ensure the final layout met safety provisions while preserving the architectural vision. Our assessment informed approaches for stair pressurisation, car park configurations, rooftop access, and common area evacuation routes. Collaboration with the architect, builder, Queensland Fire Department, and services engineers enabled us to find practical solutions for sprinklers, hydrants, facade elements, plant areas, and internal fitout details.

Jensen Hughes is proud to have collaborated with Mirvac on this project. Quay Waterfront Newstead exemplifies how impactful design and robust safety measures can come together to create a space to be enjoyed for years to come. Through close collaboration with Mirvac and key stakeholders, we coordinated a fire safety strategy that supported the design vision while meeting the technical challenges of a premium high-rise residential building.