SOUTHERN CROSS STATION

The redevelopment of Southern Cross Station (formerly Spencer Street Station) began in October 2002 and was completed in late 2006. It was designed by Grimshaw Architects in collaboration with structural engineers Winward Structures.



A central feature of the design is its wave-shaped roof which covers the entire city block. The roof's form has been generated by the performative requirements of the station and plays a crucial role as part of the environmental envelope. It was developed in response to the hot external climate and the internal need for diesel extraction and ambient cooling via natural ventilation. While it is waterproof to the outside it 'breathes' internally, allowing smoke, diesel particles and contaminates to be discharged.

The individual roof moguls act as air reservoirs that collect hot air together with the train's diesel fumes. The hot air and fumes are drawn through the roof, via louvres at the apex of each mogul, by the prevailing winds. These north-west and south-west winds define the valleys that cut across the roof form, ensuring natural ventilation year round. This solution is a contemporary reinterpretation of the historic shed roofs of nineteenth century Europe. The roof intrinsically expresses its own function and its rhythmical beauty is almost incidental.

(above text courtesy of www.grimshaw-architects.com)

This detail shows the extensive connection between the roof structure and the internal support columns. All plumbing and electrical services are contained within the columns.

Highly refined connection detail between steel roof structure and glass facade.

Spencer Street facade viewed internally from inside station


The following images are courtesy of Wikipedia.org:

Work on the new roof in January 2005


Construction work inside the station in late 2005

So renowned is the design of Southern Cross station that it has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects' Lubetkin Prize for most outstanding building outside the European Union.

theage.com.au:

SOUTHERN CROSS WINS PRESTIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE AWARD

Geelong Advertiser, Saturday May 10, 2008

This exciting article featured on pages 14 & 15 of the Geelong Advertiser on Saturday 10 May 2008. It details the proposal for the development of a cultural precinct along Little Malop St which would include a redeveloped performing arts centre, library/heritage centre, Courthouse youth arts centre, an extended art gallery, bars and cafes.

CHRISTIAN COLLEGE / EPICENTRE DEVELOPMENT

Came across this development whilst driving today. It is located at the corner of the Colac and Anglesea Roads in Waurn Ponds, on the former site of the Geelong Epicentre. The site is currently operated as the Christian College Arts and Technology Centre.

It was interesting to note how portal frame technology was being employed on a much smaller scale to what we had previously been exposed to. At the time of these photos, the slab cured and erection of the steel frame work was well underway.

UB column connected to footing through deeply-set bolts

Bolted apex joint

End wall detail showing connection to existing timber structure


Bollted knee joint with stiffening plates

Temporary props support the steel columns

Steel brackets connect purlins to rafter

Floor slab detail showing waterproof membrane and flange plate and grout under steel column

Internal timber stud walls laid out ready for erection

Geelong Advertiser, Saturday, April 26 & Tuesday, May 6, 2008

These articles, featured in the Geelong Advertiser on 26 April and 6 May, detail a review being conducted on Geelong's Waterfront Master Plan. Included in the first article is the proposal of an exhibition and convention centre that interestingly enough plans to take in the Deakin University student & staff car park!

Major Project

Our team decided to investigate the construction technologies employed in design of Norman Foster's Renault Distribution Centre in Swindon, UK, 1980-82.

The following images were used in our initial investigations and helped developed an understanding of the structural process of the building. Images are courtesy of:

N Foster, Foster Associates: Buildings & Projects, I Lambot (ed.), Watermark, Hong Kong, 1996

Floorplan


Section through split-level showroom/office space

Section through warehouse space

Roof plan showing sail structure and skylights

Exploded isometric showing the construction process of one 24x24m bay

As a team it was determined that the Renault Distribution Centre design best be applied to our site and conditions through six 24x24m bays, arranged as follows:


Proposed Site Plan


Proposed Roof Plan


These early drawings were used to determine the window layout of each facade, based on the floorplan and the sun movement.



This image (provided by www.dexion.com.au) was used in determining the internal layout of shelving in the warehouse.

Final Elevations:

NorthEast
South

West


3D representation:
My 5x5m model details each connection point in the generic steel columns:


Final A1 Presentations:

Herald Sun, Saturday, May 3, 2008

This article, written by Terry Brown, featured on Page 29 of the Herald Sun on Saturday May 3 2008. It discusses the untapped potential of Melbourne's Jolimont railyards, described by Brown as "arguably the best undeveloped piece of Melbourne". The site is estimated to be worth in excess of $700 million dollars, and this article explores several suggested proposals by some of Victoria's leading developers, as well as the ideas of Melbourne University Architecture and Design graduates, who spent half of 2007 studying various options for the site.

TAC HEADQUARTERS DEVELOPMENT

ARTISTS IMPRESSION:

The new TAC headquarters, a state-of-the-art building that will meet high standards in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, is currently being constructed on Brougham street, by developers, FKP.

Image courtesy of www.realcommercial.com.au

The new building will accommodate approximately 700 staff, with 300 car parking spaces on site.
Designed to maximise foot traffic, the building will act as a thoroughfare by offering an internal pedestrian walkway linking Brougham and Corio Streets.

Image courtesy of www.realcommercial.com.au

The TAC Development is designed to adhere to new standards in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. FKP Property Group is incorporating Ecologically Sustainable Development principles to the building with the aim to achieve a 5 star, Green Star rating.

Image courtesy of www.realcommercial.com.au

Text supplied by:

www.geelongpremiumretail.com.au
www.tac.vic.gov.au

CURRENT PROGRESS:

This aerial photograph was taken early during the construction of the lower floors. Good construction management has been employed through the overall tidiness of the site. The bottom left of the photo shows erection of the pre-cast concrete stairwells.

The following photos were taken several months later, with construction well and truly underway. It is worthy to note the extensive scaffolding required on a project of this stature.

This photo shows workers preparing the timber formwork required in preparation for the pouring of each concrete floor.

A crane delivers a pile of steel reinforcing mesh to the upper floors

This worker is fitting what appears to be a sprinkler system to the Bondek ceiling of the ground floor

Traffic along Brougham St is halted as a truck delivers some pre-cast concrete paneling. In such a restricted site, it was interesting to observe the application of a traffic management system.