Case Study - Parklands Project by Grocon

USG BORAL HELPS ACHIEVE COMPLEX MULTI-CONTRACTOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

In 2013, the Government selected Grocon to develop seven hectares of the 29-hectare Parklands site within the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, just three kilometres from Southport.

One of the most significant urban renewal projects ever undertaken on the Gold Coast, the $550-million project commenced in 2014 with 1,252 dwellings due for completion in 2017. A mix of apartments and townhouses, along with a retail and dining precinct, are sited around a ‘Village Heart’ – surrounded by a further seven hectares of green and landscaped spaces. From late 2017, the dwellings will be leased to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC).

CONSISTENCY ACROSS A LARGE, COMPLEX PROJECT Grocon employed three different plastering contractors during the three stages of – all using USG Boral wall and ceiling lining products and systems. Nik Andreou, Grocon’s Document Controller and Site Quality Representative for the project, says that USG Boral assisted at several levels. “Working with three contractors meant different approaches, and differing interpretations of the finer details of getting the job done. Project Parklands Project www.parklandsproject.com.au The USG Boral team helped overcome this challenge to Location Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia ensure consistency and code compliance across the three Builder Grocon stages of the project.” Stages 1 & 3: Integrated Building Services Australia Contractors Stage 2: Galla Interiors Pty Ltd Nik Andreou’s principal role was the certification of the Stage 3: Inspired Building Pty Ltd structures to meet Building Code requirements. “The Construction 2014-17 building inspection process has become a lot stricter 505,000m2 of USG Boral lining wall & ceiling – everything must be done by the book. So we had to Products products including Multistop™, ensure that, from the original architectural drawings Firestop® & twin-stud wall systems to end certification, we were able to resolve any issues 1,252 apartments & townhouses over 7 hectares consistently and compliantly throughout construction.” Scope 5,840m2 precinct with 18 retail stores & restaurants 7 hectares of parkland & open space

USGBoral.com EXPERT SUPPORT ON CALL MEETING A HIGH STANDARD USG Boral’s Architecture and Engineering Team were “We were the biggest contractor, with the ceilings and always available to assist. “We had access to engineering walls partitions contracts for nine of the 17 buildings,” and systems expertise whenever we needed questions says Markus Kraft, General Manager of IBSA. “We were answered. They gave us advice on fire and acoustic ratings, also the first stage, which had more of the trial and error, as well as test reporting. They ‘walked the site’ on several and that is always a challenge.” occasions during the project to help us address the thornier problems,” Nik Andreou says. “There were countless emails The Queensland Government set a Liveable Housing exchanged over specific issues. And someone from USG Australia Gold standard for construction of the project. Boral was on site most days, working with our contractors.” “Trying to come up with wall systems that would achieve the thermal efficiency, fire safety and acoustics For example, interfacing with services was a technical was tricky. We thought we might have to upgrade challenge on this project. To ensure fire standards for wall the insulation or the panels themselves to meet the penetration were met, the USG Boral Technical Support regulations,” says Markus. Team undertook to get test reports done on the preferred method of notching the board to allow for service access. The USG Boral Technical Support team liaised with IBSA The tests demonstrated that notching was compliant with to develop a wall system that achieved the standard, the fire standards, which made a huge difference to the as well as meeting budget and timing factors. work flow. “They flew up engineers, and came on site every week to do inspections and make sure everyone was happy. They had a very hands-on approach – I haven’t seen this in the past, where the manufacturer had representatives NIK ANDREOU, DOCUMENT CONTROLLER & SITE on site and played such a proactive role. Their assistance QUALITY REPRESENTATIVE, GROCON was always there, and it was very professional.” Working with three contractors meant different approaches... The USG Boral team helped overcome this challenge to ensure consistency and code compliance across the three stages of the project. MARKUS KRAFT, GENERAL MANAGER, INTEGRATED BUILDING SERVICES AUSTRALIA [USG Boral] had a very hands-on approach – I haven’t seen this in the past, where the manufacturer had representatives on site and played such a proactive role. LOGISTICS LIKE CLOCKWORK USB Boral’s project team was also active in meeting delivery challenges to keep a timely flow of materials to each of the contractors while meeting Grocon’s rigorous delivery standards. Both the project’s Account Manager and USG Boral’s Queensland Commercial Manager maintained a close presence on site while co-ordinating the company’s Australian and overseas manufacturing plants and the local supply depot.

Galla Interiors had the second biggest plastering contract, completing 427 apartments and 17 retail spaces with a crew that peaked at 374 people. The logistics of keeping that quantity of workers supplied with material was challenging.

“As a supplier, USG Boral was very good,” says Fergus McHugh, Project Engineer, Galla Interiors. “We took over 100 semi-loads of delivery into this job. We didn’t have a lot of time to check them, but they were spot on. And they were always early or on time – we never had to wait for them. It was like clockwork.”

Another thing Fergus appreciated was the care taken to meet their packing requirements. “All our packs were labelled, stacked and packed to our requirements. We made a little plan for each load, and it always came the way we wanted, with different products on the bottom or top of the load. USG Boral followed it to a tee, making our life easy.”

As a result of his experience working on this project, Fergus has no hesitation in recommending USG Boral. “We would be extremely likely to use USG Boral again on future work.”

FERGUS McHUGH, PROJECT ENGINEER, GALLA INTERIORS As a supplier, USG Boral was very good. We took over 100 semi-loads of delivery into this job… they were always early or on time – we never had to wait. It was like clockwork. AN ALL-ROUND POSITIVE EXPERIENCE Inspired Building was the third contractor hired for the job, completing 156 units. Joshua Macaulay, Director, had never worked with USG Boral before, but came away impressed. “The other two contractors were already on site when we started. They had their way of working, but we had our own ideas about how we wanted to do things. I have to say, USG Boral was very happy to respond to our requirements. They were very efficient in getting back to us.”

There were a number of things that impressed Joshua. “There was a very high safety standard on the job, and they assisted us in meeting that. They have an excellent plasterboard product. Deliveries were always on time and correctly packaged. They were proactive about service. Reps were always touching base with us and making sure it was how we planned and ordered it. And, most of all, they were very competitive on cost.”

As a result of working with them for the first time, Joshua had this to say: “My experience with USG Boral has been nothing but positive and I’m sure we’ll be doing business together in the future.”

JOSHUA MACAULAY, DIRECTOR, INSPIRED BUILDING My [first] experience with USG Boral has been nothing but positive and I’m sure we’ll be doing business together in the future.

SALES ENQUIRIES 1800 003 377 (AU) 0800 USGBORAL (NZ)

© 2017 USG BORAL. All rights reserved. The trademarks USG Boral, INNOVATION INSPIRED BY YOU, TecASSIST, Firestop and Multistop are trademarks of USG Boral Building Products or one or more of its affiliates. SHEETROCK and FIBEROCK are trademarks owned by United States Gypsum Company and used under license. The opinions expressed by employees of Grocon, Integrated Building Services Australia (IBSA), Galla Interiors and Inspired Building above are the opinions of those third parties and should not be taken to reflect the views or opinions of USG Boral. USG Boral Building Products Pty Limited – ABN 84 004 231 976 – 251 Salmon Street, Port , Vic 3207

UB1104 11/17