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Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Clubhouse

March 15, 2014

royal1Project No. 6412

Project Finalist – Property Council of Australia Innovation and Excellence Awards: Best Sustainable Development and Award for Innovation categories.

We were privileged to work with Robin Spencer Architects on the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron’s (RQYS) new clubhouse and functions centre.

The original structure was designed by ARUP to serve as a visitor’s centre for the Port of Brisbane – some 15kms away on Fisherman’s Island. The 1000m2 structure was divided into 5 sections to allow transport to Manly Bay via both barge and truck. Even in 5 pieces with only one prime-mover the country capable of the task, this was truly one of Australia’s Monster Moves.

The innovative re-lifing of the building was facilitated by BE Collective’s structural and civil commission. It’s new home is interestingly atop reclaimed land, filled using ash as a bi-product from the region’s power plant.

Resolved project complexities included:

  • Tailoring the new foundation system within a dense intricate jungle of existing in-ground services (the risk of damage to existing hydraulic, electrical and communications networks was also – avoided via use of an innovative vacuum excavation process.
  • Incorporation of a new obtuse-angled building floor plan to achieve sight-lines for the waterfront view.
  • Re-alignment of the main private road servicing the RQYS site at Manly.
  • The completed Clubhouse and Function Centre offers a 100 seat auditorium, a 250 seat function room, and a centralized kitchen.

(more…)

Gambaros Restaurant & MG Hotel

September 15, 2013

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Project No. 6182

BE Collective were commissioned to provide structural and civil design for this significant project in the heart of the Caxton St entertainment precinct.

The project comprised additions to the existing restaurant in Phase 1, with Phase 2 including a new 5-storey hotel with 2 new floors above the restaurant.
There were many complexities associated with the project, including:

  • The requirement for strengthening existing slabs, beams, columns, and foundations
  • Replacement of an existing combined sewer which served several adjacent heritage buildings
  • Detailed design and documentation to initially retain a ‘building or significance’ heritage façade and end walls
  • Significant demolition
  • Structural reporting to the Brisbane City Council Heritage department
  • Tight site constraints & neighbouring tenancy issues
  • Phased construction
  • Fire protection of strengthened elements whilst meeting budgetary expectations and ceiling height constraints
  • Degradation of the existing structure
  • Continued restaurant trading
  • Minimal contingency

Our innovative approach informed the base structure featured steel framing and precast ‘Hollowcore’ concrete floor planks to achieve the benefits associated with prefabrication and light-weight construction, whilst still providing a ‘dense’ floor system for the hotel suites.

The alterations and additions to building elements of several different vintages and varying construction quality necessitated multiple design and documentation iterations and a significant site presence throughout construction.

BE Collective was also commissioned separately to provide engineering support for contractor elements associated with temporary and construction works.

Footage of the hotel construction as featured on Nine News, January 30, 2014. (more…)

UQ Rural Clinical School, Bundaberg

February 15, 2013

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Project no. 6269

BE Collective were commissioned to provide structural, civil & hydraulic consulting services for the new UQ Rural Clinical School in Bundaberg. The development is an extension of the existing hospital precinct, and is one of several buildings proposed to be constructed on the old Pony Club oval. The facility will house ward treatment rooms and will be used to train new health professionals by both the hospital and the University of Queensland.

Elevated above the modeled Q100 flood level, the new UQ Clinical School  will accommodate car parking and building services in a spacious under-croft. The structure is comprised of a suspended reinforced concrete floor and load-bearing tilt-up wall elements.

Following recommended best practice, the civil design incorporates an in-ground rainwater detention system in addition to the formal project requirement. The design also includes a solar thermal hot water system  supplemented by an instantaneous backup, and reclaimed water system for the toilets.

Architect: S3