Rules of engagement

The diverse building forms at Westfield required different structural approaches and build methods. As well as providing formwork for the buildings, concrete had to be poured for the large fields of carparks.

Dominion Constructors undertook several aspects of the large development, says Mazin Zaki, the company's project manager for Westfield Albany.

"Much of the work was carried out with the use of metal decking, which involved using Hibond permanent formwork," says Zaki. "This tray decking system has two major benefits it's lightweight, and able to be speedily constructed."

This construction method also has the advantage of easily covering a large area. On the Albany project, this included several levels of the sprawling cinema complex.

In other construction areas, Stahlton pre-cast dicore slab units were used for much of the structural work. The large, suspended slabs were topped off with rein-forcing steel and concrete. Dominion Constructors also poured all the ground floor concrete slabs for the two large delivery dock areas, the Farmers building and the North Mall.

"Given the scale of the project, we were operating on several site areas simultaneously," says Zaki. "Deadlines in the commercial world are always tight, but none so tight as the impending opening of a giant mall with all retailers reliant on the launch date this deadline was successfully achieved."

For further details, contact Dominion Constructors, PO Box 17254, Greenlane, Auckland 1546, phone (09) 526 5808, fax (09) 526 5809. Or visit the website: www.constructors.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas