Project Design

Failure to consider shade a critical design aspect is an all too common mistake on new builds that will end up with under-utilised areas, too hot to play in summer. This generally leads to the installation of shade as an afterthought, which is more costly to complete because the site needs to be re-mobilised, machinery brought back in to complete the works, etc. Rubber soft fall, artificial grass, textured or coloured concrete, timber decks, and other composite surfacing materials can struggle to reflect or transfer heat and generally absorb heat leading to a surface that is hot to touch and often not very inviting to play on. Where shade is provided over the temperature of the surface and the ambient temperature within the play area are greatly reduced, leading to a more accommodating and play friendly space. When considering your area, it is important to consider the future life of the structure, what day to day wind conditions, pollutants, contaminants, airborne debris, and vandalism potential is applicable. Mass coverage single structures are declining due to the bland appearance they provide. Though more cost-effective, generally speaking, structures designed by architects, in particular, tend to lean more toward a less uniformed or asymmetrical layout. Advancements in fabric manufacturing, materials available, and R & D progression mean fabrics now come with longer lifespans, often around 10-15years minimum. Threads available to stitch the shade cloth panels together are also more robust than previous with some manufacturers offering lifetime warranties to match the life of the shade cloth. Ensure you maintain a regular maintenance program including visual inspections, annual re-tensioning, and occasional repairs caught early will ensure the lifespan of your shade investment is maximised. At this point there are only three coatings that should be considered: Hot Dip Galvanising. this is by far the most durable and hard-wearing coating, with expected lifespans from 10 to 25+ years. Appearance though is sacrificed resulting in a dull, shiny grey-silver appearance. Powdercoat. There are many variances within the powder coat products and methods available, this coating type is where the most caution should be exercised. Warranty of between 0-10 years can typically be expected for powder coating options. Pac painting. This is the most durable option for providing a balance of colour and durability with some warranty options exceeding 15 years. This is also the most costly option; however, it can be tailored to your site-specific requirements. This system can also be applied over hot-dip galvanised steelwork, negating the warranties; however, providing the most durable coloured finish available.  

The Lucent is appropriately located to take advantage of the locality’s high frequency transport options, including the City Glider Bus Service and the Teneriffe Ferry Terminal, and the vibrant range of retail, commercial and entertainment facilities within the surrounding Gasworks Precinct and broader Newstead locality. The project consists of two towers consisting for a fifteen-storey residential apartment tower with a 190 dwellings, restaurants and shops. The second tower has twenty-five storeys consisting of a 176 dwellings, restaurants and shops. Lucent includes a high calibre of extra features including the longest rooftop pool in Australia boasting a massive 55m.  Other features include a state-of-the-art gymnasium, bbq and entertaining areas, open air cinema, golf simulator and dedicated dog washing bays and parcel collection. The Lucent Apartments was one of our largest projects to date. Versatile Structures designed, engineered, manufactured, and installed all the custom sliding aluminium screens, sun hoods, tracking systems and vertical fins for the apartments. Key challenges included the large volume of material involved and a tight timeframe. Our team monitored and supervised each item to ensure quality products with precise measurements were manufactured and installed to the standards we and our client expected. We conducted all installations successfully and within the limits set by the builder, achieving 100% of our specified scope.

Footings are the most critical element of any structure. Footings if done right, Never Fail! Why our footings are best Reinforced Cages and Adequate Footing Size. Proper Cage Reinforcement is critical, concrete is inherently weak without adequate steel reinforcement. Footings Must also be of an adequate size to counter forces applied into them. Ensure the correct amount of steel is within the concrete footing. Check with the engineer. Maintain adequate concrete cover to the steel reinforcement. This protects the steel from corrosion. Concrete Cancer. Ensure the footings are founded into natural soil, we recommend a soil test be carried out and ensure any fill layers are accounted for. Identify the actual size of the footings required to counter the forces exerted by the structure, Uplift, Moment, soil conditions etc must all be taken into consideration. Strength of Concrete. Ensuring adequacy of concrete strength specified for the footing is crucial. Concrete Strengths vary and should be considered when designing a footing. Strengths can vary from 15 mpa -50+mpa for standard structures alone. Other external factors should be considered, soil conditions, time until installation or loading the footing etc.  Countering difficult soil conditions. Fortunately for our customers we have dealt with some tricky soil conditions over the years, this includes, Brissy Tuff Rock, equivalent to Granite, to water tables only 800mm below surface level. Our experience here ensures you have accurate information and solutions at the time they are needed. Dealing with these scenarios can blow the budget massively if there isn’t a calculated back up plan ready to implement. Smart design prior to unearthing the issues is ideal, but if encountered throughout the project, we ensure you that we are able to handle the situation, promptly, efficiently and most importantly cost effectively. In Summary, Being cheap on footings can really hurt you in the long run. If a footing needs to be replaced, often the structure and the shade needs to be replaced with it. Stay Versatile! Jamie Howard