Monday, 4 June 2007

major assignment

Here are some images taken from my final poster. My architect was Zaha Hadid. I decided to study tilt-up concrete panel construction as I know Zaha loves concrete, and I've always been amazed the way they make tilt-up panels on site and them lift them within days.


East elevation.


Strip footing with steel rod reinforcement and deformed bars to support the load bearing (non-column) beams. Slab also poured with reinforcement, and makes for the 'work site' of the tilt-up panel making process.




Tilt-up panels are made with timber forms as a 'mould', fit to the correct size and shape. Reinforcement, inserts and embeds are set in the form before the panel is casted. A crane then lifts the panel up via insert, and the bracing seen here is connected to the panel prior lift-up, and is then bolted down to the slab for additional temporary support. Braces are usually set two-thirds of the way up the panel at a 45 degree angle to the slab. Metal brackets are also welded to the panel for the connection of the rafter beam.



Aluminium window frame and glazing installed, and the beam is bolted to the bracket.



Purlins bolted to the beam cleats, safety mesh is added, and box gutter is connected to Spandek, which is connected to the beam and last purlin. Now that I think about it, I think the sarking, insulation and roof cladding is installed before the box gutter! Oh well. Flashing caps over the panel edge and edge of the box gutter side.




Corrugated iron roofing installed after the sarking and insulation.





A closer look at the box gutter and Spandek, as well as the flashings on either side of the box gutter.






Panel, bracket, beam, purlins, sarking/insulation, box gutter, flashings roofing.

Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Major Assignment

Major Assignment

Major Assignment

Here are some images taken from my final poster. My architect was Zaha Hadid. I decided to study tilt-up concrete panel construction as I know Zaha loves concrete, and I've always been amazed the way they make tilt-up panels on site and them lift them within days.


East elevation.


Strip footing with steel rod reinforcement and deformed bars to support the load bearing (non-column) beams. Slab also poured with reinforcement, and makes for the 'work site' of the tilt-up panel making process.




Tilt-up panels are made with timber forms as a 'mould', fit to the correct size and shape. Reinforcement, inserts and embeds are set in the form before the panel is casted. A crane then lifts the panel up via insert, and the bracing seen here is connected to the panel prior lift-up, and is then bolted down to the slab for additional temporary support. Braces are usually set two-thirds of the way up the panel at a 45 degree angle to the slab. Metal brackets are also welded to the panel for the connection of the rafter beam.



Aluminium window frame and glazing installed, and the beam is bolted to the bracket.



Purlins bolted to the beam cleats, safety mesh is added, and box gutter is connected to Spandek, which is connected to the beam and last purlin. Now that I think about it, I think the sarking, insulation and roof cladding is installed before the box gutter! Oh well. Flashing caps over the panel edge and edge of the box gutter side.




Corrugated iron roofing installed after the sarking and insulation.





A closer look at the box gutter and Spandek, as well as the flashings on either side of the box gutter.






Panel, bracket, beam, purlins, sarking/insulation, box gutter, flashings roofing.

Article Review #6

Construction activity up in WA, QLD

The Age, May 30, 2007

A recent article in The Age noted that completed construction work in Australia has reached a rising record of 2.7 per cent to $27.2 billion in the March quarter, a strong growth from $26.519 billion in the December quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Western Australia and Queensland also strongly contributed to the statistic with strong levels of spending on infrastructure.

Furthermore, there was a rise in residential work, growing with a 3.4 per cent rise in the quarter including a 4.6 per cent gain in new residential work. According to Westpac senior economist Andrew Hanlan, the spending on infrastructure trend led by WA and QLD is likely to continue.

source: http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/Construction-activity-up-in-WA-Qld/2007/05/30/1180205307054.html

Sunday, 27 May 2007

Clarendon Street Site

I came across a commercial building under construction in Clarendon Street in Melbourne (down the road from Crown), and fortunately I had my camera with me. Prime opportunity!



Here we can see the insulation placed above the purlins, which are connected to steel beams on either side. We can also soo the girts along the walls and the blue beam bolted to the concrete beam below the girts.

A picture of a concrete band beam and slab, showing the economical height saving as opposed to a normal beam and slab.


A close up of the concrete beams and columns, as well as the steel beams bolted to the concrete columns.


More wall girts with what appears to be plasterboard cladding.


Here's a good picture of what the external facade columns look like, before (steel girt frame) and after (concrete facade cladding).


The bolted connection of steel beams and columns.

Saturday, 26 May 2007

Article Review #5

5Techstyle acoustical ceilings by Hunter Douglas Commercial

Selector.com - Friday 25th May 2007

Bridging the gap between form and function, Hunter Douglas Techstyle ceiling offers endless design possibilities and acoustic benefits, heralding a new era in the design of Australian commercial ceilings.


Hunter Douglas Techstyle ceilings provide optimum acoustic performance with its honeycomb panel design which absorbs both high and low frequencies. Techstyle can also be equipped with its luminescence lighting design feature, which involves placing a light source behind the non-woven polyester fabric panels, making the ceiling 'glow' with various colours of light to reflect different mood settings.

Its easy to install with its chip/hinge system that leaves the panels clean and untouched. Furthermore, Techstyle has environmental qualities that make it ideal, such as containing no volatile organic compounds, preserves indoor air quality and is 100 percent recyclable, not to mention its durable panels ensure a long product life span.

Winning the DesignEx Product Design Award in the Surface Finishes category in Melbourne, 19/04/07, Techstyle emerges as the clear market leader in acoustic ceilings.