Fire Safety Engineering
KPIs
Principal Contractor
Built
Architect
SutersARCH
Nihon University’s Newcastle Campus creates a distinctive learning environment for international students by combining heritage and contemporary architecture. The design centres on the historic courthouse, flanked by two new academic buildings and supported by student accommodation, forming a cohesive education precinct.
DC Partnership acted as the Fire Safety Engineers, leading the development of the project’s fire safety strategy. A key challenge was balancing modern fire protection with the sensitive heritage fabric of the central courthouse. While the new buildings were sprinkler-protected, the existing courthouse could not be treated in the same way. We developed a bespoke compartmentation strategy that safeguarded the building while allowing it to remain integrated at the heart of the campus for courtroom play and learning.
Our work also included a detailed assessment of the student accommodation, where we rationalised compartmentation by introducing smoke compartments in lieu of individual fire compartmentation for every bedroom. This approach delivered a safe and compliant outcome while reducing unnecessary complexity and cost.
Fire safety engineering | Accessibility & inclusive design | Building code / Code consultant
Fire safety engineering | Accessibility & inclusive design | Building code / Code consultant
Ellie is the powerhouse behind DC Partnership’s financial, operational and people performance. With over a decade of experience in consultancies, startups and corporate environments, she’s a master at combining big-picture strategy with hands-on problem-solving. Since joining DC Partnership in 2021, Ellie has streamlined operations, expanded the company’s footprint and kept everything running smoother than ever. A champion of diversity, inclusion and female leadership, Ellie is all about creating a workplace where everyone feels valued—and where no challenge is too big to tackle.
