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Western Australian Government’s commitment to offsite construction takes foundation in new development.
Following on from the WA’s governments recent budget announcement affirming their commitment to offsite construction, Built Offsite spoke with Padraic Mellett, founder and director of WA-based OFFSITE about a recently completed prefabricated build for the Department of Communities (DOC).
The DOC commissioned a 10-unit apartment development in collaboration with Whitehaus Architects, WA-based builder Rapley utilising a timber/masonry hybrid method of construction that enabled a substantially faster build time compared to traditional methods of construction. OFFSITE were engaged in a design and construct capacity to provide a modern methods of construction (MMC) timber framed offsite construction solution for the project.
The ground floor was constructed in traditional masonry with a first-floor concrete podium slab providing the platform for an additional 2 storeys of offsite constructed panelised timber wall frames, floor, and roof cassettes design, manufactured and installed by OFFSITE construction WA.
“The speed in which lock up was achieved was only made possible through the adoption of design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA). With the first and second storey comprising 8 units taking only 18 days to erect on site began with the design process 2 months earlier where hsbCAD CAD/CAM software was used to produce a digital twin of the building that enables any issues to be identified prior going into production and streamlines the erection process on site. The digital twin then feeds machine files to the Weinmann CNC production line to manufacture the building,” said Mellett.
The engineered timber-framed wall panels were wrapped, insulated, and clad at OFFSITE’s automated closed panel facility in Kewdale, and the factory installation of windows, flashings and cladding removed many working from height access issues and improved safety on site.
Floor cassettes provided a working platform for the second storey wall panels prior to closing the building envelope off with offsite constructed roof cassettes.
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On reflection of the project (Offsite construction WA), Mellett concluded: “Developers would expect to save a minimum of 6 months off their construction program that ultimately translates into significant cost savings at project completion. Site costs such as supervision, project management, scaffold, toilets, fencing, waste bins cost approximately $2,000 per day, not to mention the increase in project cashflow.
This preliminary cost saving combined with reduced holding and financing costs adds up to a very attractive proposition for developers when choosing OFFSITE as their structural modern methods of construction partner”.
“The Department of Communities (DOC) innovation mandate was the catalyst for only the second timber framed apartment project built in Western Australia’s history. Through the adoption of modern method of construction, the DOC delivered an inclusive, affordable, medium density housing solution in record time amidst the states acute trade labour & materials shortage.”
See: www.offsite.net.au
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