Major Project Research Site Visit

Major Project - Site Visit to Innovation Building - Ashton, Raggat, McDougall

Article 4 - Hopes Build for Eco-concrete

Hopes Build for Eco-concrete
BPN Building Products News
May 2008, Volume 44. Number 4. News Pg 20

At time when climate change and global warming issues are at the fore and attitudes toward the environment are shifting, demand on the construction industry for green building materials is high.

In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, Zeobond, has been transforming waste from power stations and blast furnaces into this revolutionary new material called geopolymer concrete or E-Crete. Regular concrete requires very high temperatures in kilns, generally up to 1400º and gives off carbon dioxide, while chemical reactions that form this polymer-based alternative releases just 10-20% of the CO2 emissions produced by normal concrete. Research suggests that between 5-8% of global CO2 emissions are caused by cement production.

Durability, due to the porosity of the material and rapid setting, are the most concerning issues for the regular use of this material, but extensive and rigorous testing has occurred both in Australia and overseas and it is widely believed that it will eventually be utilised for high-rise buildings and bridge applications.

Over the years geopolymers have been utilised in specialist applications such as catalytic converters, fire resistant elements in F1 racing cars and in fire-rated insulation for passenger ships. Interestingly, geopolymer bonds directly to internal steel reinforcements, which impart a supplementary protective barrier to those elements.

Even though there are still some problems which need to be ironed out, geopolymer concretes have several encouraging advantages which need to be considered further; it is made from waste materials, potentially cheaper than other cements which are currently on the market, it has a rapid drying process, therefore buildings could be completed at a faster rat, and, it is more resistant to acid, fire and microbial attack. It is encouraging to know that local councils are playing a key role in the push for greener materials in the construction industry.

Major Project - Warehouse & Office Design

Major Project -
Warehouse & Office Complex Design.

We have referenced the Innovation Building at Digital Harbour, Docklands, Melbourne and also the St Kilda Library, Melbourne both designed by Ashton Raggatt McDougall.

Office - 6m H. x 20m W.x 30m L.
Warehouse - 8m H. x 40m W. x 40m L.




The Construction technology for these buildings are a Post and Beam structural system with pre-cast concrete cladding and curtain wall glazing with individual windows.

The Northern façade of the office building is articulated by Louvres at 3700mm H. x 800mm W., which function as individual decorative fins, and also as efficient sun shade protection. This solution has been utilised to address sustainability concerns and reduce the operating costs of the complex.

Site Visit 5 - Concrete Pour for Raft Slab (House)

The following photos show the preparation of and concrete pour for a raft slab (house). The site is for a two storey dwelling at the rear of a subdivided property in Parkdale, Melbourne.

Foundations and blinding can be seen in this photo. The blinding, which requires a weaker grade of concrete, has been poured at 600mm deep as the site is at a low point on a flood plain and therefore the slab needs to be raised above flood level. Apparently there is a lot more concrete needed for this job than their would normally be due to the location of the flood plain.





Plumbing lines which have been raised above the top of the floor slab and string guides can be also be seen. Pads which are built ip with soil between the strengthening beams have a 150mm thick layer of sand on top and have been prepared with guides for screeding.
The vapour barrier, bar chairs, and reinforcement have been laid. Square reinforcement has been laid on the top of the pads and rectangular between the pads (on top of the strengthening beams). The site has now been prepared and is ready for pouring (At this point it was 7:05am and we were waiting for the concrete trucks to arrive…)






Polystyrene blocks were put in place for the later application of brickwork and a rebate will be formed underneath the polystyrene blocks for the brickwork to sit on. The blocks have been tied back to rough but very sturdy formwork with pins as indicated in the photo.















There are some site specific issues on this job. A telegraph pole and lines are located very close to the property which can be seen in this photo, therefore a boom cannot be used and the concrete has to be pumped through a horizontal line.














The concrete pour is about to begin....

The external channel has been poured first and so far the concrete truck has been replaced just the once.

This photo shows the concrete being pushed into the rebate below the polystyrene blocks.

As a boom can’t be used the concrete hose line has to be moved manually. As concrete is incredibly heavy when wet, the hose needs to be dragged over pegs with a hook.

Unfortunately I was unable to stay for the whole process, and did not get to witness the screeding and the final finished slab, but I now understand how a slab is prepared and poured.

ASHTON RAGGATT MCDOUGALL - Research for Major Project

ARM - Ashton Raggat McDougall

Melbourne based Architectural Firm, Ashton Raggat McDougall (ARM), have received International recognition for their excellence in the design of Commercial/Retail, Cultural, Masterplanning, Health and Education and Residential Projects.

Since the company’s inception, ARM has maintained its dedication to design research and to speculative proposals that push the boundaries of architectural culture and of the city. ARM is at the forefront of research in digital imagery, the perception of space and form, and finally, the conversion of digital ideas to built form.






The Innovation Building at Digital Harbour, Docklands, Melbourne, was built in 2004 and was the highest performing ‘green’ building in the Docklands precinct at that time. This building, references themes from the technological age, by appropriating circuit boards, barcodes, morse code and binary numerals which are revealed by the randomly striated pre-cast concrete panel cladding and glazing.

The ‘Open Book’ extension to the existing St Kilda Town Hall and Library was built in 1994 and has received many design awards. The façade consists of a stone - clad book, the design referencing the bookish role of libraries, while the computer monitor shaped window penetration suggests that the technological age is emerging from the pages of the book. The open space in Carlisle Street was redeveloped as a public space, establishing a crossover to the library.

Deakin University Site Visit - Excursion (28.04.2008)

Deakin University - Site Visit 4
Excursion

This shows an existing column which has been sprayed with some type of fire retardant. It has been applied to prevent the steel structure behaving like 'spaghetti' in the case of a fire, Bruce mentioned that it would last at least a couple of hours - long enough to evacuate the building. It is also assumed that it meets the latest industry standards.











This is the underside of the new extension to the existing brick building. As can be seen, concrete construction has been utilised. Bruce mentioned that the concrete is nearing the end of the setting process and the last of the angle bracing will soon be removed.








This photos illustrates all the correct safety fences
required for contractors on Union sites.



















This photo is an excellant example of utilising the old structure to help build the new structure . Firstly, the existing floor provides tradesman and materials with protection from the elements on the worksite, while also having the potential to allow a slab or similar to complete the setting process. Secondly it could be used as a kind of formwork, a platform to help contractors build the new glass atrium which is part of the design at roof level.











Shown here is a steel column with bolt holes, this indicates where the ceiling level was previously, the ceiling beam and therefore the ceiling and floor levels have been raised to suit the design of the new building. The building now has 5 levels instead of 6 levels.













The existing building has been utislised many times throughout the construction to fix new elements. Here you can see new cross-bracing elements connected to existing steel beams and columns.











While, this photo shows the detail of a new pre-cast concrete panel lift shaft tied back to an existing brickwall and column with the use of 'C' purlins also.














A steel portal frame with an exposed ceiling. Purlins and fire services can be seen.

Article 3 - Code sets out safe practice

National Building News

Volume 8, No. 3 Pg.28.

In an attempt to prevent the rising number of fatalities and injuries that have occurred on construction sites since 2000, the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) have announced that a code of practice for tilt-up and precast construction work will be implemented by jurisdictions within 2 years of declaration.

These accidents have occurred when concrete elements have collapsed from inadequate bracing, panels being knocked down by cranes or while being loaded or unloaded from trucks.

The new code comprises several important issues including; risk management, handling, storage and transportation, safe design, duty-holder responsibilities, prefabrication and casting, erection and demolition of tilt-up and precast panels.

This National Code of Practice has been developed to improve the safety of workers in all areas of construction, as the preservation of life is the most crucial issue confronting the construction industry today.