Awards
Carfax wins MBA Award in 2009
 Category: Sporting Facilities up to $5 million – Construction Technique / Equipment
Project: Jindabyne Recreation Hall Stage 1, Jindabyne Academy of Sport & Recreation
 Carfax were proud winners at the MBA Awards night held on 31st October 2009. They recently completed a new auditorium at the NSW Sport and Recreation site at Jindabyne and this project won the category of Sporting Facilities up to $5 million – Construction Technique/Equipment.
The aim was to provide a mixed use structure to accommodate the needs of staff & visitors and a student learning facility as a central hub for the organisation. This facility is being used for the delivery and co-ordination of the centre’s overall learning experience for students.
An existing dilapidated building was demolished to make way for the new 655m2 building, with associated road works and landscaping. The building represents stage one of a three stage master planned project, that will be a significant upgrade of the student precinct.
 To meet the client's requirements of a compressed timeline, an innovative construction methodology was conceived. It was decided that the wet and storage spaces be prefabricated off site and the primary steel framed building was designed as an independent braced structure to allow for the prefabricated elements to be craned into place.
Each 35m2 prefabricated module was constructed in vertical halves, with the upper section of each complete with roof structure, and pre-fitted with mechanical, electrical and hydraulic services – serving as plant for the entire complex. The lower section was pre-finished for occupancy. The cladding was designed to allow the steel framed elements to be seamlessly fastened together on site. Sub floor vented voids were designed to allow for stormwater and sewer outfall, and the connection of an extensive hydronic slab heating system.
High levels of insulation were provided through all external elements, polystyrene lightweight cladding, combined with shadowclad plywood and matrix panels, together with double glazed low E window suites, ensure that the building will have high thermal performance in the sub-alpine conditions.
The client is delighted with the outcome and envisages additional commercial opportunities for the centre during those times when the facilities are not in use by the centre’s core market groups.
Proud Winners of the 2008 MBA Excellence in Construction Awards
Use of External Timber
Environmental Management
Timber rough ‘n’ tumble
It looks like a military training ground – and that’s why the children love it.
The Wentworth Common Adventure Playground at Sydney Olympic Park features timber forts, climbing ropes and water hazards. Stone slabs allow children to dart through the grasslands, a bird hide gives them a chance to watch the wildlife and raised structures provide room to shimmy underneath, where imaginations can run wild.
While the playground is a winner with the youngsters, it’s also a hit with the MBA. Carfax Commercial Constructions oversaw the design and building in consultation with Hassel Architects.
Piquing the judges’ interest was Carfax’s extensive use of certified recycled Australian hardwoods and the care the company took to protect the endangered green-and-golden bell frogs on the site. Reclaimed from several sites throughout Australia, the timber had o be structurally sound when placed into the series of open and half-open “boxes” in the playground. Some of the timbers used were karri, from a 1950s high school in Western Australia; spotted gum and iron bark from power poles built during the 1960s around Shoalhaven; and blackbutt from a disused World War II army barracks in Brisbane.
Sandstone, used for stepping stones and other features, was also recycled, with the aggregates used in the sub-soil drainage systems and architectural elements. All soil dug out during construction was used elsewhere in Sydney Olympic Park.
The frogs were removed from the area before building began to ensure none were injured and the ponds in the area have been designed to be drained periodically to stop the establishment of gambusia, or mosquito fish, which are a threat to the frogs.
Care was also taken that gambusia wasn’t transferred to neighbouring ponds on the worker’s boots.
Carfax’s managing Director, Paul Reimer, says the playground is “very popular and gets extensively used”.
The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday November 5, 2008.
By: Carolyn Boyd |
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