The Pullman Melbourne on the Park

Yes. The Pullman Melbourne project featured on this page is a real-world example — a fibreglass pool installed on a 7th-floor rooftop opposite the MCG, still performing more than 15 years on. Out-of-ground rooftop installations use lightweight, factory-engineered shells that arrive as a complete unit, lifted into place via crane. Each rooftop project requires structural engineering review of the slab’s load capacity early in the design phase.

In many cases, yes. The Pullman’s freestanding fibreglass pool was installed inside the existing concrete shell with paving framed over the gap to maintain the original floor level, avoiding the cost and disruption of removing or modifying the original concrete structure. Whether this approach is feasible on a specific site depends on the condition of the existing shell, the floor-level requirement, and structural engineering input.

Yes. For projects where a single standard mould won’t deliver the required pool form or size, Compass uses a custom-jointed configuration: multiple Maxi Rib shells joined using the ‘link rebate’ method to create a single unified pool. This is the technique pioneered on the Pullman project and now used across a range of commercial and residential projects.

The Pullman’s ceramic composite Maxi Rib shell has been performing without resurfacing or shell remediation for 15+ years. Concrete pools typically need resurfacing or chemical treatment of the surface itself on a much shorter cycle. For commercial operators, this affects both capital lifecycle planning and ongoing facility costs. Note that water chemistry in commercial pools is regulated by state public-health authorities — required treatment levels apply regardless of pool surface and are managed through the water-treatment system.

Crane logistics are a major part of any rooftop project. The Pullman lift was scheduled for a Sunday morning to minimise traffic and pedestrian impact, with road permits and full traffic management in place. Inner-city sites near major venues like the MCG require careful coordination with local authorities. Our team plans the lift sequence, access route, and timing in conjunction with the builder and site team.

The in-floor system circulates water through floor-mounted heads, returning warm water from the bottom up and helping move debris toward the skimmer. This can support energy efficiency by improving heat distribution, and supports water clarity for the pool surface. As with all commercial pools, water chemistry and sanitisation are regulated by state public-health authorities and must be managed through the pool’s water-treatment system regardless of cleaning method.

Yes — this is one of the things that makes fibreglass particularly suited to operating hotels. Because the pool arrives as a fully manufactured unit (rather than being cured on site like concrete), the on-site installation window is much shorter and far more predictable. The Pullman lift was completed in a single Sunday-morning window with full traffic management, allowing the hotel to continue operating throughout. For working hotels and resorts, we plan the schedule around the property’s low-occupancy periods and coordinate with the operations team on site logistics, noise windows, and guest-area access.

As early as practical. Rooftop projects benefit from structural engineering input, crane logistics planning, and shell configuration decisions all being made before construction documentation is locked in. Call our commercial team on 1300 286 620 or use the form on our Commercial Pool Solutions page to start the conversation.