Apartment Block Stabilised After Light Rail Construction
- Kensington, Sydney, NSW
The Brief
Standing tall since the 1920s, this three-story apartment block in Kensington, Sydney, was a testament to enduring workmanship by the original bricklayers. But the construction of the new Light Rail network on Anzac Parade in 2017 shook its foundation—literally.
Relentless excavation and persistent vibrations from heavy construction equipment caused the once-solid structure to subside. Load-bearing beams above the central stairwell began to separate, and cracks appeared throughout the supporting walls below the floors, and the building’s entrance hallway showing the cornices separating from the walls. Concerned for the structural integrity of their home, the owners’ committee and residents turned to Buildfix for an affordable, minimally disruptive foundation repair solution.


The Challenge
Our structural assessment revealed that this historic building’s issues were all too common for older structures located near major construction sites. Built on shallow brick footings just half a metre deep and resting on loose sandy soils, the foundation wasn’t designed to endure the intense vibrations and soil displacement caused by the nearby infrastructure project.
Unlike typical subsidence that affects isolated areas, this block faced a unique challenge: an entire half of the building, housing six residences, had sunk uniformly. This posed a serious threat to the building’s overall stability. Traditional underpinning methods proposed by remedial builders were invasive, costly, and disruptive—prompting the committee to seek an innovative and efficient solution.

Our Solution
To address the extensive subsidence, our structural engineering team developed a solution tailored to the building’s unique needs. We combined our sand stabilisation method with a deep-lift injection technique, focusing on halting the foundation’s movement at its source.
We injected our GeoPoly™ resin more than three metres below ground, stabilising the loose sandy soils, filling voids, and creating a stronger foundation for the building. This advanced method not only targeted the root cause of the subsidence but also provided a minimally disruptive repair option that prioritised residents’ comfort and the building’s long-term stability.


The Outcome
Thanks to the precision of our GeoPoly™ resin injections, the apartment block was not only stabilised but also lifted by several millimetres—exceeding expectations. The entire project was completed in less than two weeks, with minimal disruption to residents, who were able to remain in their homes throughout the process.
The cost was a fraction of the quotes provided by traditional underpinning companies, saving the owners’ committee hundreds of thousands of dollars. Both the residents and the owners’ committee were thrilled with the outcome, which delivered stability and peace of mind without the upheaval of temporary relocation.
Now standing strong once more, this historic Kensington apartment block is ready to endure the ongoing vibrations of the City to Randwick Light Rail and the demands of modern city living for years to come.
