| Vaughan Constructions Pty Ltd contracted Structural Systems (Southern) Pty Ltd to design, supply and install post-tensioning to a 60,000m2 warehouse facility in Laverton, situated 18km west-south-west of Melbourne. |
| Designed to be a major liquor storage and distribution facility for Woolworths Limited, the brief included design of the post-tensioned elements, preparation of shop drawings, supply of components and installation of the tensioned and un-tensioned reinforcement. The ground slab was divided into 32 square pours, each with an average area of 1,800m2 (40m x 45m). Constructed without edge thickenings, the project posed a significant challenge to both Structural Systems and consulting engineers BECA Pty Ltd. |
| The post-tensioned design also allowed Structural Systems to significantly reduce the overall duration of the project, achieved through the following pour sequence. Divided into 32 pours the slab was four pours wide by eight pours in length. For each set of four pours Structural Systems constructed the two inner pours first, then the two outer pours, before moving to the next set of four. This pattern was repeated throughout the project and Structural Systems was able to achieve the close to three pours per week, equating to 15 tonnes of 12.7mm strand. |
| Constructed over a five month period, Structural Systems has installed 190 tonnes of 12.7mm post-tensioned reinforcement. Successfully achieving all quality and program targets, the Laverton distribution centre is a credit to Structural Systems designers and site personnel. |
| The Woolworths Distribution Centre has given Structural Systems the opportunity to deliver a 'better than industry standards' outcome for our client. The post-tensioned solution developed by Structural Systems enabled significant reductions to be made in both the construction program and in the quantities of concrete and steel reinforcement required, whilst at the same time achieving very large joint-free floors for the client. |
| |
