Constructing Environments LogBook (Wk 7)

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WK7 – Studio Report In Wk7 the studio group visited 567 Collins Street, Melbourne to look at another construction project in the works. The building being constructed is a high-­‐rise ofOice building, which will also include a few Oloors of retail at the bottom (including shopping/restaurants), a gym and ofOices in the upper Oloors.

The building’s structure had almost been complete on the day of the visit, with only two moor concrete slabs needing to be poured at the top levels. We started the tour at the top levels and worked our way down to the basement.

The site manager told us that the build progresses upwards, with services being implemented from the ground Oloor up and exterior cladding working its way up the outside of the building. The material being used for the exterior cladding of the building, is curtain glass which can be seen in the image above.

The image on the left shows the building from Collins street. The Oirst two Oloors of the building will be used for retail, and the design on the ground lends itself to an open space that will invite people walking along Collins street inside the building. The materials used at the façade include glass, steel and natural stone. Most of the structural work of the retail space has been complete, with interior cladding starting to be put up, along with interior feature roofs.

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WK7 – Studio Report The image on the left shows the concrete frame structure of the building.

The upper Oloors of the building use rectangular concrete columns (made of precast concrete) that connect to concrete beams spanning along the above concrete slab.

The red arrows in the image on the left shows the load path diagram in this particular section.

This construction system is used in the upper Oloors of the building, with the concrete columns being bigger and more solid/ stable in the lower Oloors of the building.

The images in the bottom left shows the early stages o f i n t e r i o r c l a d d i n g / services installment. In these images, we can see all the materials that have been delivered and will be used in the interior of the different Oloors.

Like the structure of the s y s t e m , s e r v i c e s a n d interior cladding are done from the bottom up.

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The diagram above shows the process of putting up the concrete slabs that make up the Oloors of the building. A collapsible/temporary support structure is put up and a concrete slab is laid above it. While the concrete dries, the temporary support structure (structural formwork) spreads the load evenly around the ground. When the slab is set, the formwork is relocated to the top of the building for the next storey concrete slab to be poured. This is continued up the building until all concrete slabs have been Oinished, and then all structural formwork is is removed.

Concrete columns support the concrete slabs once they have all been set and the formwork is removed.

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WK7 – Studio Report The image on the left s h o w s t h e t y p e s o f concrete columns that are found in the lower levels of t h e b u i l d i n g . T h e s e columns are poured in-­‐ situ, and are very large in diameter. These columns must be large and stable, as they hold up the weight of the rest of the building.

At the ground of the b u i l d i n g , a f e a t u r e structural element can be seen at the façade of the building. The large concrete columns are have both structural and aesthetic uses, with a cantilever balcony being held up by the diagonal members.

The diagram on the left shows the load path diagram of the diagonal and vertical concrete m e m b e r s o f t h e building.

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The concrete columns shown in the photo on the right contrast to the ones shown in the photo o n t h e l e f t . T h e s e columns, found at the u p p e r O l o o r s o f t h e building are pre-­‐cast concrete columns, that are much less heavy and wide than the round concrete columns. As there is less weight needing to be carried in the upper Oloors, columns do not need to support as much of a load, and a smaller column is possible

The image on the right shows up close the temporary formwork that is put up before pouring concrete slabs in the building.

The diagram shows again the process of the formwork being put up, the concrete slab being poured, and the Oinished structure, with the concrete slab being supported by concrete columns, and the formwork removed.

WK7 – Learning Loop

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WK7 GLOSSARY

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Drip – Vapour barrier – Any material used for damp prooOing, typical a plastic or foil sheet, that resists diffusion of moisture through wall, ceiling and Oloor assemblies.

Gutter – A shallow trough Oixed beneath the edge of a roof for carrying off rainwater.

Parapet – A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony, Down pipe – A pipe to carry rainwater from a roof to a drain or to ground level.

Flashing – A strip of metal used to stop water penetrating the junction of a roof with another surface.

Insulation – A material that prevents the loss of heat or the intrusion of sound.

Sealant – Material used for sealing something so as to make it airtight or watertight.

ENVS10003 Constructing Environments