Horizontal challenge
Queens Lodge and Kings Square, a project featuring an apartment building and adjoining public square, was built by Clearwater Construction to connect with the Newmarket Railway Station
The issues of constructing a very large, low-rise building are different to those posed by a high-rise, but they are just as challenging to resolve.
Clearwater Construction was the main contractor for the construction of the new seven-storey Kings Square and Queens Lodge project, which includes a 62,000m² building with 492 apartments, 731 car parks and 42 retail spaces, plus a 1600m² public square adjoining the redeveloped Newmarket Railway Station. The 365-unit Queens Lodge is designed with four apartments across its width, all separated by internal bridges and walk- ways. The other 197 apartments are in Kings Square.
Project manager Stuart McClatchy says this is believed to be the biggest apartment project of its kind in New Zealand, taking three years from start to finish.
"Sizewise, Queens Lodge alone is equivalent to two 28-storey buildings lying on their sides. The challenge with a horizontal dynamic was in programming and sequencing the work," he says.
"We had to weatherproof the wide apartment levels quickly so the internal work would be continuous and the work programme would not be impeded."
Clearwater established a close working relationship with the client, who also at times acted as a supplier and sub-contractor on the project. Because many of the materials were imported from China, Clearwater had to ensure all products met New Zealand standards, and programming was essential to ensure they were delivered on time.
Access to the site, hemmed in on three sides by commercial buildings and the railway station, was another consideration for Clearwater. With only one access point, careful management was essential to keep to the schedule and ensure minimum disruption to the public.
"Even with these issues, the two stages of the project were both finished within the proposed schedule," says McClatchy.
Contact Clearwater Construction, 26 Patey St, Newmarket, Auckland 1051, phone (09) 531 5002, fax (09) 520 7336. Email: enquiries@cwater.co.nz. Website: www.clearwaterconstruction.co.nz.
Story by: Trendsideas
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