GE Headquarters Building, Solid and 07 3054 1556, Email [email protected], Cubic in Appearance, Makes a Bold and Strong Website
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ILLUMINATING THE FUTURE 2 Image by Kate Mathieson Photography The $55m GE HQ is a 15,000m office building consisting of six stories with two levels of basement carparking, as well as achieving a 5 Star Green Star and 4.5 Star NABERS rating. In 2013 Kane Constructions commenced start to the development of the Greater discussions about construction of Springfield business hub. It is laid out in an General Electric’s new Headquarters in L shape to maximise staff visual exposure to Springfield Central. Consultation began connecting parklands. The six stories is built from scratch which included the flexibility upon two basement car-parking levels. The of the scope to accommodate ideas and build comprises pre-cast concrete panels with creative suggestions to tackle the complex aluminium-framed windows and vertical, build. Kane’s Queensland Director, David aluminium sun-shading panels extending Rutter, believes that Kane’s collaborative from the facade. A soaring roof over an area Image by Kate Mathieson Photography dialogue with the client and consultants from between two parts of the building creates a the outset were a remarkable mechanism striking foyer. that allowed value to be added throughout MAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY : Kane Constructions design and build phases. Ultimately those The building has a 5 star Green Star rating PROJECT END VALUE : $55 million relationships have been a key factor in the (as built) and 4.5 star NABERS rating. Kane ARCHITECT : Conrad Gargett Architecture project’s successful delivery. sought design management expertise from Structural ENGINEER : Meinhardt Australia surveyor : ML Surveyors Conrad Gargett Architecture regarding “We started the job with a written brief for sustainable design of buildings, as well as a two stage lump sum Design and Construct Umow Lai’s ESD team. Sustainable design contract,” says Rutter. However, it was not principles have been applied to reduce tightly prescriptive. Azure Development maintenance and operating costs, such as Group were project managing for the reducing air conditioning needs through client and set up the contract in this form, limiting sun penetration into the building. explaining the efficiencies of operating this ESD principles were also applied to the way. It was a very collaborative, interactive build, for example incorporating the use of process that resulted in particularly green concrete. cooperative relationships between the client, contractor and subcontractors. We The early Contractor involvement process had a very happy client - right from the resulted in significant efficiencies being very beginning.” incorporated into the building process including a two-storey tilt-panel basement, Having a happy client is not surprising flat plate suspended slabs and a crane assisted given the project was completed 6 weeks jumpform for the core that resulted in the ahead of schedule and 10% under Kane’s structure topping out in six months. originally-proposed budget. After working on the design phases together, parties Being the third building up in the Parkside formally kicked off construction of the precinct meant that Kane had to coordinate 15,000m2 commercial office building in all the incoming services. They also completed June 2013. Construction was completed some external works such as roadworks and just prior to Christmas 2014. Five months landscaping. At peak, Kane had around 200 prior to completion, Kane were engaged to workers on the project. complete the $12.5 million fit-out at the new headquarters. In fact, Kane completed the Nationally, Kane have over 250 staff and fit out activities, an area 10,000m2, within annual turnover of $500m, with offices the original contract period. in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Other projects that Kane are currently working Kane were engaged by Springfield Land on include the Epworth Richmond Corporation to build the new GE HQ Redevelopment, the Geelong Library and building as part of the new Greater Springfield Heritage Centre in VIC and the Carnes urban development, 30 minutes south of Hill Recreation and Community Precinct at Brisbane CBD. By 2030, Greater Springfield Hoxton Park NSW. is expecting an equivalent population of over 100,000 in a sustainable urban and business hub. The precinct is aiming for sustainability accreditation under the new Green Building Council of Australia Green For more information contact Kane Star Communities initiative. Constructions Pty Ltd, 14 Fox Street, Albion Qld 4010, phone 07 3054 1555, fax The GE Headquarters building, solid and 07 3054 1556, email [email protected], cubic in appearance, makes a bold and strong website www.kane.com.au 132 QLD PROJECT FEATURE PS1GE HEADQUARTERS COMMERCIAL BUILDING SPRINGFIELD AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION REVIEW WWW.ANCR.COM.AU QLD PROJECT FEATURE GE HEADQUARTERS SPRINGFIELD 133 Below Austral Precast suppled Greenstar concrete pre-fabricated panels to the GE Headquarters. The project in Springfield, now the headquarters material and which has seen its increased use in for General Electric, was constructed using the high rise residential, commercial, and industrial precast concrete solutions and installation construction. Along with outstanding durability expertise from the team at Austral Precast. As resulting from the use of concrete in various Australia’s largest supplier and installer of innovative densities and compositions, precast concrete is a precast concrete solutions, Austral Precast was chosen strong, low maintenance, cost-effective material after a competitive tender due to extensive experience that will endure the ravages of weather, time, in commercial construction. pollution, and other external forces with minimal degradation or damage. The GE HQ required a suitably experienced precast concrete supplier to provide a range of tailored To assist in reducing the ravages of weather, time solutions, from the green star concrete panels and pollution, external precast panels can be pre required to reach energy efficiency targets, through finished with Austral Precast’s innovative PermaTint to project management skills required to fit within finishing system which applies a solid colour that a tight installation schedule. In all cases Austral is warranted for 25 years. Available in a vast range Precast delivered. of monotone colours and unique colour effects, PermaTech offers great advantages over on site To achieve the goal of reaching a 5 star Green colour applications like painting because PermaTint Star rating and 4.5 Star NABERS rating Austral actually penetrates into the panel’s surface for a Precast offered a solution in the form of green more stable, longer lasting colour finish. PermaTint star concrete panels which reduce the need for is also applied during manufacture so there is no heating and cooling by adding thermal mass to the need for additional trades on site to colour panels. structure. The panels, which are made using reduced cement levels in concrete and recycled water, Austral Precast also offers PermaForm which can reflect a shift in the construction industry to giving imprint three dimensional shapes into the panel greater consideration to the environment, both using form liners and PermaGraf which allows when constructing buildings and in their ongoing images with photo realistic detail to be etched operation once built. into the panels face. PermaTint, PermaForm, and PermaGraf are all part of the PermaTech finishing As a result, Austral has expanded the scale and system and can be used individually or together for scope of its business to embrace Environmentally a unique finish. Sustainable Design Initiatives and the changing economic climate of the market place. Their precast Austral Precast operates from four plants located concrete panels are manufactured in each plant across Australia using state-of-the-art technology throughout Australia under strict environmental and production techniques to produce a diversified guidelines. Emissions from the pre-fabrication plants range of customised wall, floor, column, and are monitored in accordance with government client-specific precast solutions, many of which guidelines and as a member of the National Precast were applied with diligence and detail to the GE Concrete Association of Australia the company and Headquarters Development. its skilled employees are helping to promote the special environmental benefits of precast concrete. Austral Precast services a range of markets focusing primarily on the industrial, commercial, multi- When achieving the goal of fitting within a tight residential and community sectors. The business installation schedule, precast concrete was an ideal provides a full product and service package with the choice. Because precast concrete is manufactured ability to design, detail and manufacture a diverse off site and made to client specifications, range of precast products and provide industry- manufacture and site preparation can occur leading installation services. simultaneously with quick and straight forward installation. This ensures faster enclosure of the Other projects Austral Precast have supplied their structure, minimal delay to work being carried out world-class, custom designed, thermally efficient by other trades, and limited site congestion with no precast concrete panels to include Westfield delays resulting from external weather conditions. Garden City, VIDA Apartments, Patrick Port For the GE HQ this meant installation on time and Botany Development and Transcity – Eastern with minimal fuss, all under