WEEK 7 - GREENSPACE APARTMENTS RICHMOND Foundation & Footing System
Before any new foundation is placed on site, the land was flattened and the soil was settled. The foundation onsite could be steel reinforced concrete slab as well as strip or pad footings. As the site is on a slight slope a footing system could have been utilised to offset the angle and help support the structure.
In the basement car park, some of the foundation can be seen. The flooring consists of the steel reinforced concrete slab and the steel reinforced columns. These columns are much bigger.
Large steel reinforced concrete columns run through the structure. They are placed in situ and help transfer loads to the foundation system. Along with Large steel reinforced concrete slabs, steel reinforced concrete bricks are also used as part of the base foundation system. Above Building D, there is a Centrelink building that has to be operational throughout the construction process. Therefore, all construction has to be done out of working hours. As they are building directly above the existing building they had to strengthen the existing foundation and footing system to accommodate the new structure. The strengthening of the structure involved putting in place a series of steel reinforcement above in between the roof of the Centerlink and the base of the new structure.
WEEK 7 - GREENSPACE APARTMENTS RICHMOND Flooring System
The flooring system is primarily steel reinforced concrete slabs. The slabs along the roofing system are placed in situ.
As the apartments have balconies, the waterproofing of these areas is necessary. On the balcony, multiple layers of waterproofing are used to ensure that there are no leakages during harsher rain conditions. The first layer in placed along the joints and the next two are layered all over the balcony. The waterproofing membrane is a paint like substance.
The ceiling of the car park runs electrical cabling necessary for the construction site. The electricity needed for the site originates from a location across the street.
Acoustic matting is a layer of matting placed on the floor of a space which is located above another habitable area – for example a 2nd storey living room above a 1st storey living room, or a 4rd floor bathroom above a 3rd storey bedroom, but not when a habitual or non-habitual space is situated above a non-habitual space – for a example, there is no need for acoustic insulation between a 6th floor dining room and a 5th floor laundry.
WEEK 7 - GREENSPACE APARTMENTS RICHMOND Wall System
Along the exterior, a series of patterned prefabricated concrete sheets are put in place using the cranes. Apart from Building D, most of the other structures utilise reinforced concrete as a walling system. The waterproofing of the concrete is the main concern. The solution to this was the use of a waterproof membrane coating and ipex/apex concrete additive, which expands when coming in contact with water. Steel trays are also put in place to accommodate the runoff.
The walling system in Building D uses a combination of steel and timber framing. The steel sections are loadbearing beams and columns while the timber structure as floor joists and stud walls. As timber is used heavily in this building, fire check plasterboard is used as regulation. In the internal rooms, it was evident that fixed glassed panels were also used as part of the walling system.
Steel structural elements are also used as part of the walling system. These large steel columns are used to accordingly with the concrete structure that is being erected behind it. Some types of beams that are used are universal or I and PFC beams.
WEEK 7 - GREENSPACE APARTMENTS RICHMOND Roofing System
This image shows the bondek formwork that is used when concrete is placed in situ. Bondek is highly efficient, versatile and robust formwork, reinforcement and ceiling system for concrete slabs.  It is a proThe roofing system in the car park is steel reinforced concrete. The Roofing also helps run file steel sheeting widely accepted by the building and construction industry to offer efficiency and speed of construction. Bondek has the electrical cabling. This is where the main services of the construction are being run through. The dead load of the roofing system in the car park is transferred into the larger excellent spanning capacities for greater strength and less deflection. It also acts as permanent formwork with minimal propping and no steel reinforced columns and down into the foundation system. stripping of formwork is required as well it works as composite slab saving on concrete and reinforcement costs.
Within the roofing system in the car park, the electricity cabling are imbedded in the ceiling.
Along with the walling system, steel beams are used for the roofing system. Here you can see that PFC beams are cantilevered outward on an angle from the steel columns. A series of I beams also run in grid formation for another roofing system.