Hybeam's inside job on Pentridge
Prison
Coburg's old Pentridge
Prison is being transformed into an urban piazza
precinct, a commercial and residential hub with
people now eager to get in rather than out. Combining
new apartment-living and design with the prison's
original old world 'charm' was the challenge for
the project's developers and Hybeam by futurebuild
?t the pro?le perfectly.
| The prison site was
originally purchased by a group of investors in
1999, but it was the eventual developers, Pentridge
Piazza, that had the vision of a mix of history
and urban living. Their aim was to retain the unique
story of the place while developing a new urban
village that would appeal to both home buyers and
tourists, converting the original buildings into
quality apartments, shops and an educational facility
over several stages.
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So far the project,
which will ultimately house 2,000 residents, is
on schedule. The 74 apartments, part of the project's
?rst stage, are near completion and selling fast.
Other plans for the development include a 15 storey
Sentinel building, with 125 apartments on the former
hospital site, an education facility of 1500 square
metres on the old 'B' annexe building and there
will even be a gymnasium in the B division eastern
exercise yard.
When Joe Caldarella,
of Bowens Timber Commercial Division, heard about
Pentridge Piazza's ambitious project he was keen
to be a part of it. "Jobs like this don't come along
very often - it's a very high pro?le site," he said.
He was also keen to work on a project that involved
a building that has been part of Melbourne history
since 1857, given that Bowens itself is a long time
Melbourne business owned by the same family for
110 years. With a good supply network, in this case
Dindas Lew Australia and futurebuild, Caldarella
knew he could deliver. He wanted to ?nd the most
innovative product solution for the job - to do
the job right.
After meeting with
David Peda, Project Administrator of Pentridge Piazza,
Caldarella took the plans away to put together quotations
for the floor joist systems for the 74 apartments.
Dindas Lew produced comprehensive layouts and design
certi?cates and priced quantities based on the plans.
The Hybeam option represented cost savings of around
20% when compared with other alternatives. Peda
was also impressed with Hybeam. "It's a product
we're comfortable with, it's cost effective and
it performs. we are really pleased at how rigid
they are."
The ?rst stage apartments
have all been ?tted out with Hybeam Engineered I-Joists
and represent half of the project's two storey homes.
There are also several spaces which have been sold
as shells for the owners to ?t-out as they wish
themselves. In fact, Hybeam represents most of the
I-Joists in stage one.
Some of the existing
bluestone walls are three feet thick and combining
old and new structures relied on Hybeam members
used at different levels. The entire 74 apartments'
joist systems allow for dropped-level floors in
wet areas. The dual height was achieved using the
Hybeam HJ246 in the dry areas in combination with
the HJ200 in the wet areas.
The Hybeam lies within
the steel superstructure and could be ?xed to the
steel in a number of ways. Thanks to Dindas Lew
and futurebuild, carpenters were provided with details
of ?xing and blocking methods to ensure they were
con?dent in using the Hybeam. Site calls were also
scheduled to offer training to contractors such
as plumbers and electricians for the hole cutting
for services. futurebuild provided the technical
support in these areas, including a pocket guide
to calculate spans and permissible hole locations.
With a proven track
record and a reliable network of supply and support,
it seems that Hybeam was ideal for the Pentridge
Piazza project. It was not only price competitive
enough to become a part of this historic project,
but was also tough and adaptable enough to make
it on the inside.
For more information
on this unique development visit www.pentridge-piazza.com.au
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