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.

Site Visit 3 - Concrete Precast Panel Construction

Dandenong Road Carnegie, Melbourne.

Bracing/propping can be seen, which keeps the concrete pre-cast panels stable. It is interesting to note that full height bracing is only required for the exposed panels, the rest of the building is partially strengthened by bracing, but mainly supported by the first floor level.

Visible in this photo is a combination of timber and steel formwork supporting the dead and live loads, while the first floor concrete slab completes the drying process.

Timber and steel formwork is visible on the column; bracing has been provided in two directions and is at right angles. The formwork extends down to the bottom of the column; this is necessary because during the concrete pour pressure increases with depth, so this then helps to prevent deflection. Also visible are safety rails on the first floor level.

Shown here is bracing at 30-60° for the horizontal concrete pre-cast panels.

A Band beam can be seen in this photo, while the Bondek is exposed, forming the underside of the first floor concrete slab. Also visible are piles of formwork which have just been dismantled as the concrete setting process has past the critical stage, although bracing is still required for the columns and pre-cast panels to prevent collapse of the first floor level.

Tutorial 6 - Two Storey Office Block

Article 2 - Paperless Solution for Construction Sector

National Building News
April 2008 - Volume 8, No. 3, Pg 5.

As one of the largest commercial construction companies in Australia, Hansen Yuncken is playing a leading role in facing the challenges of climate change and global warming.
Hansen Yuncken has recently collaborated with Adelaide based software company Grazer; the aim was to provide a paperless method of supplying manuals and drawings to clients.

‘The Grazer system is a state-of-the-art software solution used for storing, accessing and updating manuals, by way of an easy-to-use graphical-based application’. This software enables operation and maintenance manuals for plumbing, fire, air-conditioning and electrical systems to be viewed on screen, with links to test reports, building and finishes schedules, technical descriptions and photos. It is a time saving process for all contractors involved, allowing immediate access and verification of all documents and information in the one location.

In this technologically advanced era, it is time-consuming, expensive and superfluous to print out thousands of documents; an electronic system is more efficient, and the Grazer is a good solution as it eliminates the need for hard-copies. For one of Hansen Yuncken’s major projects, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Stage 2, over 18000 pages were saved from being printed, and for another as yet uncompleted job, an estimated 35000 pages are estimated to be saved by project completion. Also, harmful carbon emissions contributing to climate change will, in theory, be reduced through use of this system.

Thus far, there has been no reference made of the actual cost of the software program, and it is likely to be expensive and therefore not immediately available in the marketplace for all companies to purchase; however, it does demonstrate that the Australian construction industry is heading in a positive direction, towards a sustainable future.

Tutorial 5 - Endwall section for Concrete Construction