Ocean by Meriton

LOCATION: Surfers Paradise

TYPE OF PROJECT: Residential High-Rise

YEAR(S): 2019-2022

CLIENT: Infinity Formwork

Australia’s largest apartment developer, Meriton, set out to transform the Surfers Paradise beachfront with its landmark development, Ocean Gold Coast. Rising 252 metres into the Queensland sky, Ocean stands as one of the tallest residential towers ever constructed in Australia — a structure defined by its unobstructed sea views, beachfront position, and signature architectural crown.

From the earliest stages of construction through to the installation of the tower’s iconic crown, Cogent Scaffolding partnered with Infinity Formwork to deliver the complete formwork and perimeter scaffolding solution for this extraordinary project. Our scope covered the full height of the building — supplying, erecting, and managing scaffolding systems across every stage of the tower’s rise from ground level to its 76-storey peak.

The technical complexity of this project was exceptional. Working at extreme heights on a coastal site, our teams engineered and installed perimeter scaffolding that had to account for significant wind loads, the curvature of the building’s façade, and the need to maintain an uninterrupted construction programme for Infinity Formwork across every level. Every lift of scaffold had to be planned, sequenced, and executed with precision to keep pace with the formwork and structure above.

The most challenging — and defining — phase of our involvement came in March 2022, when the Cogent team reached Level 76. At hundreds of metres above the Gold Coast, our crew cantilevered the scaffold outward from the building’s perimeter before continuing to rise a further 10 metres above the structural slab. This cantilevered configuration was engineered specifically to allow the installation of the tower’s architectural crown — the defining feature that gives Ocean its unmistakable silhouette on the skyline.

Cantilevered scaffold at this height is among the most technically demanding work in the industry. It requires detailed engineering design, load calculations, and a highly experienced crew capable of working methodically and safely in exposed, high-altitude conditions. Our team spent several days on Level 76 executing the installation, coordinating closely with the wider project team to ensure the crown could be lifted and set into place without incident.

The project was completed safely and on programme — a result that reflects both the capability of the Cogent team and the strong working relationship we built with Infinity Formwork over the course of the project. Ocean by Meriton is now a permanent fixture on the Gold Coast skyline, and Cogent Scaffolding is proud to have played a central role in making it possible.