<news>

Myer Centre Redevelopment – Brisbane

October 10, 2017

BE Collective staff provided Project Management and Contract Administration services for the redevelopment of Myer Centre Brisbane.

The complete refurbishment of Brisbane’s iconic Myer Centre shopping precinct was undertaken in various stages over a period of six years. This involved the renewal of existing retail tenancies to accommodate the construction of a Coles Express, construction of a new eight-cinema complex including associated public areas, food and entertainment tenancies, new ﬂoor finishes throughout all public areas, the creation of additional car parking in the old Sizzler tenancy and additional retail space replacing the Sizzler entry stairwell.

Maud St, Heritage Commercial Mixed-Use

November 29, 2016

Project no. 6739

The Maud St site contains a stunning two-level heritage-listed warehouse building of approximately 1400 m2 and two smaller attached warehouse buildings at the rear of the site.

Owen Architecture (who we’re honoured to be working with) has proposed a mixed-use re-development that includes a flower market, commercial kitchen, roasting and bakery operations on ground level and function / conference room plus commercial offices on Level 1. The development is sensitive to the heritage nature of the warehouse and it is assumed that the existing building fabric is to be preserved to the maximum extent possible, including interior exposed brickwork.

With consideration to our extensive experience in mixed-use and heritage refurbishments, (Newstead Brewery at Milton, Wickham Hotel Refurbishment, Gambaro’s Restaurant and Hotel, Africa Hall for the United Nations) the BE Collective team have been commissioned to provide structural, civil, ESD and hydraulic consultancy services covering the design and construction phases.

We’re excited to be intimately involved in a project that has such aesthetic and cultural appeal.
More pictures to come stay tuned. (more…)

Edward Street Vitrines

August 24, 2016

Project No. 6669

BE Collective were excited to be a part of the designing and specification of some beautiful new glass display vitrines located on Edward St in the heart of Brisbane CBD’s high end commercial space.

The brief described an upright triangular prism with a bronze frame placed on top of a concrete plinth. The frame has to be strong enough to hold large safety glass panes and withstand moderate levels of pedestrian loads or force (from people clamouring to purchase the products within we assume).

Our completed documentation ensured compliance with strict architectural detail, provided an excellent level of durability and ensured a long life span.

(more…)

Bangkok Sustainable Masterplan

June 16, 2016

Project No. 6589

The BE Collective team was commissioned to provide ESD services in support of a huge 17-hectare high-density, mixed-use development concept in Suan Lum in the heart of Bangkok; master-planned by The Buchan Group.

Tasked with facilitating sustainability and environmentally conscious initiatives for a development of this size, the BE Collective team looked to push ourselves and the project beyond the typical ‘carbon neutral’ or ‘carbon neutral’ standards that are the core of most current energy efficiency rating schemes.

We identified the specific environmental needs of the Suan Lum district to be pollution mitigation relating to air quality, water quality, stormwater management and energy generation.

We envisaged a group of buildings that drew-in air pollution and breathed out fresh air for the neighbourhood. We pictured structures that harvested clean energy from the head of the sun and of the earth to mitigate its own energy needs. A development that took in the polluted water of Bangkok’s struggling waterways and returned it clean and fresh.

To facilitate cleaner air, we suggested high-volume, low-pressure scrubbing and UV treatment systems. While the majority of current external air pollution control systems are designed only to disperse polluted air in a space deemed less harmful (those used in underground traffic tunnels for example) we nominated a system that would actively contribute to improving air quality.

To achieve higher stormwater management capabilities in the area and increase flood proofing, we suggested a network of storm traps, porous concrete pavements and bio retention including green roofs.

In order to mitigate our developments vast energy needs, we worked to incorporate a multi-pronged and multi-discipline strategy including photovoltaic glass, wind turbines, a tri-generation plant and an underground thermal labyrinth.

Through these initiatives we were proud to target a Platinum “World Excellence” rating through the LEED Neighbourhood Developments rating tool. This equates to the highest possible 6-Star “World Leadership” ranking in the GBCA’s Green Star Communities tool, which is the Australian equivalent rating system. (more…)

Queen St Facade

March 31, 2016

Project No. 6277

This prominent 26 storey Queen St office building housing a long-term financial institution tenant was constructed in 1988. The 3^rd and 4^th elevations feature reinforced concrete wall and decorative articulated façade elements.

Being significantly exposed to weathering and nearly 30 years into its design life the reinforced concrete elements were exhibiting degradation, including:

– Façade Coating
– Ferrule Plug shrinkage
– Spalling of Concrete
– Hairline Cracks
– Staining
– Bug Holes

The building owner commissioned BE Collective to consult on façade remediation in support of an extended design life in advance of a possible sale. Our scope included forensic inspection, preparation of structural remediation specifications and tender documentation, as well as contract administration and inspection services.

Our inspection of works informed a forensic investigation and testing scope inclusive of:

– Carbonation testing of cores sampled at both cracked and sound locations
– Half-cell testing at specific locations to provide µA/cm2
– Cover meter or GPR at each floor to provide additional info relating to the base
wall cross-section and ‘chevron’ protrusions.
– Testing for Presence of Chloride Ions

Testing was undertaken by Australian Concrete Xrays, with results generally showing:

– The existing façade coating was badly deteriorated in the form of chalking, peeling and cracking.
– The coating had also become quite brittle, and was compromised at places due to underlying concrete defects, such as bug holes, cracks and spalls.
– A total of 64No concrete repair locations were found, affecting around 22% of panels surveyed
– 42% of all façade panels surveyed showed cracks
– A majority of the cracks are only hairline in width, and were categorized as low to medium risk.
– Bug holes impacted around 46% of surveyed panels, resulting in more pronounced carbonation of the cover concrete in these locations.

BE Collective prepared repair specification and construction tender documents to best align with the Client’s repair budget. Freyssinet were appointed on the basis of our tender review. Freyssinet are recognised as one of the most experienced post-tensioning, specialised civil and remedial engineering specialists in Australia.

Vertical repair access (and engineering inspections) were facilitated via Building Maintenance Unit up to 20 storeys over a glass atrium roof. A safety deck was constructed over the atrium to protect structure and building tenants below. With the commercial tenants continuing works throughout the construction programme, noisy works such as grinding and jack hammering were constrained to the hours of between 6pm and 9am.

The works were halted for a period due to the unfortunate injury of a worker as a result of being crushed by an electrical motor during a repair.

Despite the work hour constraints and lost time due to the worker accident, the façade remediation was completed in a timely manner and to a high standard. (more…)