Timber Design Awards 2012
< previous entry | list of entries | next entry >
Category: 6. Timber Innovation In Business
Most innovative use of timber to solve a business/commercial challenge.
- University of Auckland: Elam Student Residence, Module Production
Dunning Thornton Consultants, Stanley Group, Assembly Architecture & Motm Architects - www.dunningthornton.co.nz
Challenge to solve:
1.Delivery a 468 suite 16 storey student accommodation tower in time for the 2012 University of Auckland academic year - requiring 9 months removed from the building programme.
2.To achieve significant overall construction cost savings.
3.To deliver the highest quality standards.
4.Reduce time, cost and quality risk for Client on constrained inner city site.
Factory based production: Rapid customisation & Fabrication:
All units were fabricated in Stanley’s modular productions facility in Matamata. These were transported to Auckland, fully complete and fitted out and lifted into position to complete the building.
Timber was selected as the primary fabrication material for the structure and joinery as it was light weight and met all the engineering performance demands. The units comprise LVL, sawn timber, ply and panel products.
As a low energy and easily workable material, the factory processes could be set up at a significantly lower cost than for other materials . It allowed all the advantages of factory production to be gained; speed, efficiency and quality control without the need for a single standardised product or large energy/capital intensive machinery.
Extremely tight fabrication tolerances (< 2mm) were achieved using CNC cutting/routing techniques for both finished components and fabrication templates. Factory conditions allowed the use of structural glues and innovative and efficient connections.
The use of timber in the development of this off site construction process allowed for the first time in New Zealand the fabrication of a major modular building. This is a step change for the industry.
Sponsors
Category Sponsors
